Row rumbles on over cattle imports from Belgium

Published on Tuesday 10 February 2009 19:23

LAST Tuesday The Scotsman was the first to break the news that two farmers in Northumberland had imported a small consignment of pedigree Belgian Blue cattle from their native land, despite huge opposition from neighbours and the wider livestock industry.

The farmers involved have done nothing illegal, but there are concerns over the risk of infecting the UK beef and sheep industries with bluetongue disease.

This potentially fatal condition is spread by midges, but had largely been confined to Africa and southern Europe until two years ago, arriving in England in late 2007. Scotland has remained clear of the disease and all cattle and sheep are now subject to a compulsory vaccination programme supported by the Scottish Government.

Ted Fox is one of the farmers involved in the importation and he is clearly concerned at the widespread adverse reaction to this business deal. Yesterday morning he telephoned this correspondent to make his case on the record.

He said: "I would never do anything, and that includes importing animals, that could do damage to our great livestock industry. We took professional advice that included discussions with a government vet before we embarked on this project. We were assured that the risks were non-existent.

"The cattle we selected were tested and isolated before leaving Belgium with a similar procedure followed when they arrived in Northumberland. We wanted the best genetics available and paid accordingly for some excellent cattle."

However, Fox has been taken aback at the reaction. He farms on the south side of the Cheviot Hills with neighbours over the boundary fence in Scotland who clearly fear for their future livelihoods should bluetongue surface. Fox makes the valid point that the disease is only spread during late summer and autumn and that all cattle and sheep in Belgium have been vaccinated.

That may be true, but the disease was still detected on a handful of Belgian farms late last year.

Fox has in recent days been subject to considerable pressure from fellow farmers, but still contends that right is on his side.

He said: "I attended a sale in Castle Douglas last Friday and was approached by a farmer who said he would never do business with me again and that I was threatening the livestock industry. I then explained all the procedures we had been through and how careful we had been. That farmer then apologised and said that he was not fully aware of all the facts.

"As to the threat of not buying from me, we sell around 800 prime cattle each year through auction marts, if there is any adverse pressure then they will be sold direct to abattoirs. That would not do much to help the auction system."

But the fact remains that cattle have been imported into the UK and subsequently found to be carriers of bluetongue, despite having been allegedly tested before shipping. The Fox response is that this has largely been down to a bunch of "cowboys" intent on making a quick buck.

NFU Scotland is resolute in its opposition to any imports from countries on mainland Europe where the disease is present. A spokesperson said: "There are clearly loopholes in the system and we believe it is totally irresponsible for anyone to even consider importing cattle or sheep.

"These farmers (in Northumberland] appear to be living in a bubble of their own for financial gain."

Lyndon Edwards, the chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, added: "The so-called voluntary ban on imports agreed by British farmers is quite simply not working. Livestock are continuing to be imported from restricted zones by a small majority of greedy farmers who are putting the health and welfare of the country's cattle and sheep at risk."

Fox concluded: "If I had known what a fuss and trouble all of this was going to cause, I would never have gone ahead with these imports – but we have nothing wrong or illegal."