The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

i wondered where i had seen that wales was in the pz ,but then thought i must have been mistaken Shocked

,you have every right to be angery ,i would be , Crying or Very sad

i don't know what to say to you bb ,it must be awful for you at the moment Crying or Very sad

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

Thanks Suz, yes it has not been the best of years but at least (on a selfish note) I've still got grass for my sheep and haylage when we start to get low on grass. Plus I had a phone call this evening from someone wanting to buy 6 ewe lambs off me so thats less mouths to feed this winter Very Happy

On a brighter note, I picked the keys up to the new place today Cool

and have been successful on eBay buying a lovely old meat platter to go on my dresser (which I havent found yet Rolling Eyes

). So, easy come, easy go lamb money, aint retail therapy a wonderful thing Laughing

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

i just wanted to wish you luck tomorrow ,
i hope things go well with the appeal ,to move your sheep

debcat · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

good luck tomorrow

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

Thanks guys. I have had contact from the NFU and they look like they may at long last be getting DEFRA moving in the right direction. There are certain conditions imposed on movements out of the BTV zones (most centering on isolation of stock from between 14 and 60 days from all midge activity - yeah, right Rolling Eyes

the others on moving stock that have been vaccinated with relevant vaccine....... Anyone spot the tiny flaws in these criteria?) So, we'll see. My best hope is that we get to a "vector free" stage this winter, probably about January and then they will assess risk strategies for movements....
I doubt that the Welsh Assembly will budge before then though Crying or Very sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

temp drops after storm tomorrow ,any help
Crying or Very sad

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

dose this help milkmaid?

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=tmp;sess=06c2b107d22beef7522da9134b9fea7a

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

Well, pretty much as expected, answer was a resounding NO!
Honestly, if it werent so serious, the bureaucracy would be hilarious. How about this then? In Wales, there are several farms that straddle the BTV zone. So half in and half out. DEFRA said all those in this situation should consider that ALL the property was under BTV restrictions. Not so the Welsh Assembly. THEY say that half in and half out is just what it says and so you get the ludicrous situation where livestock grazing at the front of the property (in the BTV zone), for example, are not allowed to move to grazing at the back of the property (outside the BTV zone). If you do move them to a new field, you are subject to a £5000 fine, 6 months in jail and you would also lose your livestock.......... So all we need now to midgeproof our animals is a stockproof (or otherwise) fence is it ? Confused

As to a "vector free" period, the Welsh Assembly reckons there wont be one. They wont go with bloodtesting as they say that they can only guarantee the animals free of BTV on the actual day they are tested. Well, I suppose this is true enough but that would then go for all the animals they bloodtest to send abroad for export for breeding, they are All only clear from whatever they are tested for on the day they have the test done........ It doesnt seem to worry them in normal circumstances, just for BTV...... Its a case of bending and manipulating the rules to suit themselves Mad

Utter bl***y madness. Who exactly thinks up these rules is what I'd like to know.......

So, does anyone know of cheap buildings with about 60 acres grazing for rent for the next three years, or can someone sneak a few midges closer to the Welsh border for me Wink

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

i'm so sorry lisa , Crying or Very sad

CP · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

Really sorry to hear that. Sad

Is there any hope of them changing their minds?

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

No idea. Knowing DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly, probably not before a case of BTV is confirmed in mid Wales which will be far too late.......
So cross I could scream Twisted Evil

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

sorry to here that.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

thanks weatherman Wink

just read on the DERFA website that the "outbreak" in Peterborough actually isnt one at all.............. it has proved negative serologically which means that the edge of the BTV line shouldnt be where it is. It is this "case" in Peterborough that has caused most of the misery for us in the mid to north of the country by extending the zones out of all proportion Twisted Evil

Anyone care to take bets on whether DEFRA will see sense and move the line back or not???

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6750 Location: isle of lewis

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd