The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

we've had the only one that they are having here this year,the christmas one might still be on
so that's it ,noticed in the local paper yesterday a few adds for sheep

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2381 Location: South Cumbria

I have just bought a Salt Marsh Lamb from next door for £75 they are £50 for half in the butchers ! and £105 for a whole 1 from the farm shop where they are from the same source so I am happy works out at £3 a kg butchered

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Norfolk

Now 34 cases of Bluetongue Sad

In Essex as well now, so they have extended the zones - see here http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/latest/index.htm

Tim

cookie88 · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 302 Location: ISLE OF LEWIS

they need to keep us more update, this leap without any info is shocking

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1543 Location: Clawddnewydd

There's absolutely nothing in the papers or in the news about this. If you hadnt posted, I would have been none the wiser until looking on the DEFRA website to see if the movement restrictions on breeding ewes had been further relaxed (not!). Worryingly, the zone is now up to the edge of the eastern border of Staffs, one county more and thats me stuffed. I wont be able to move my sheep to my new place......... Only one option for them if that happens............ Crying or Very sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

oh no

,hang on with that they are talking about making the whole of gb or it might just be england one zone ,any chance of getting them outsooner

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1543 Location: Clawddnewydd

I know, if all of GB becomes one zone its OK. BUT, if Wales and Scotland opt out.......... Its extremely worrying. Add to that, our first live pedigree sale resulted in a top price of £900 and second highest £370 as opposed to last year of £2400 with the next highest of £2200. Some breeders only got £150 for their first sheep in the ring and then had to withdraw the rest as there were no bids. Mule ewe lambs with a top of £68, average £30 to £40.... Last year, averages were in the £80 range with tops being £150 plus. Its terrible. Quite a few good breeding ram and ewe lambs will end up in the butchers lamb rings with the way things are going. I know that at least a dozen or so of my rams and possibly the same amount of ewes will end up being culled as there arent enough buyers because people know that they will not be able to afford to feed in-lamb ewes this winter. My first sale is on Saturday so I'll have a better idea of what's what after then.
Anyone want any Bluefaced Leicesters? Laughing

cookie88 · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 302 Location: ISLE OF LEWIS

where did you here that milkmaid?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

i know bronskibeat,just cluching at straws Embarassed

,to see flocks that are so well breed Crying or Very sad

,it has been disgussed but the implictions to the desease status for each of the countries is quite Confused

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1543 Location: Clawddnewydd

Its been mooted for a few days now, but it is in the Farmers Guardian today. They seem a bit reluctant to do it at the moment (fingers crossed!!) but it will depend on whether there are any more outbreaks further up country according to the article.

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Norfolk

On BBC Radio Suffolk today they have been saying that the rules for movements will be changed on Sunday. They are hoping to allow movement direct to sales/abbatoirs (but didn't mention direct to other farms???) outside the zones as long as certain criteria are met - the trouble is that defra have not said what the criteria are yet Evil or Very Mad

Also the FMD surveillance zone is expected to be shut down. All sounds hopeful but they didn't give any update on the cases of bluetongue.

Tim

cookie88 · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 302 Location: ISLE OF LEWIS

its gone up again.

37 know.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6973 Location: isle of lewis

41 cases now
there are no figures on morality ect .
oh and in rye in east sussex there is a suspected case of foot and mouth in sheep

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1543 Location: Clawddnewydd

Do you reckon this means that we wont be going back to "normal" on Wednesday now if this does prove to be another F&M case? I spoke to someone high up in the dealings re F&M and Bluetongue at Welshpool on Saturday and they said that the Bluetongue zone should stay as it is (no more cases (!) permitting) and that the UK would not become a whole zone and neither would Wales and Scotland opt out as it would prove catastrophic to the cross border movements to slaughter. Phew!!
Oh, sales were appalling, only managed to sell 4/9 sheep and as 2 ewes came home, it has knackered Hereford where I had 9 ewes entered. I'll have to see if I can give them away at Chelford now, the only option left after that is abattoire Crying or Very sad

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Norfolk

Two cases of Bluetongue in sheep now Crying or Very sad

Nothing on the defra website that I can see though Confused

Tim