THAME CATTLE MARKET, which has been closed for business since restrictions were put in place after an outbreak of ‘foot and mouth desease’, will see the arrival of some animals tomorrow (23/08).
DEFRA, the Government Department for the Environmnet, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced that it will allow some movements of susceptical animals to enable them to go for slaughter, and Thame will act as a collection centre for such animals tomorrow (Thursday). A vet will be on hand to check the animals before they can be moved on to the slaughterhouse.
A collection centre is a gathering of animals in one place to sort them into size before going to an abattoir. A dedicated slaughter market will operate on the same basis as a collection centre but in addition allows for buyers to bid for animals on behalf of an abattoir.
The Chief Auctioneer at Thame Farmers Mart Ltd, Simon Draper, told ThameNews.Net that it is widely suspected that the outbreak was caused by the virus escaping from a laboratory at the Institute of Animal Health, that makes the vaccine to fight foot and mouth, and which is located just a mile away from the original outbreak in Surrey.
Photo: Simon Draper, Director and Auctioneer at Thame Farmers Mart Ltd, Thame cattle market.
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