He said the impact was being felt not just by farmers but also their families and other businesses in the local community. We are a small community and so everybody knows somebody who is affected. He said the biggest problem was a lack of specific information about which farms had been confirmed as having the disease. He said he knew of one farm where the occupants had not realised their land was adjoining that of a confirmed outbreak. The rumour mill is turning over and people are very anxious.
Every farm touches five others.
Hatherleigh market normally has a weekly throughput of 500 cattle and 2,000 sheep, with around 50 cattle and 1,000 sheep handled by KVN Stockdale Ltd on a Tuesday. Frank Yeo, company secretary, said it was still uncertain when it would be open again. If the disease appears to have been contained there could begin to be some lifting of movement restrictions in the next three to four weeks. However, he said Hatherleigh, being at the centre of an outbreak, may have restrictions for longer than other areas. Despite this he said he remained certain that the market would survive this latest crisis.