So far only 14,092 animals have been slaughtered out of a total of 77,614 which will be destroyed because they are infected or have dangerous contacts. Mr Scudamore said contractors were being employed to build the pyres and hundreds of tons of straw, wood and coal had to be moved. Some corpses were being buried and some taken to rendering plants in sealed containers but for the majority burning in the farmers' fields was the best course. On Sunday in Banff, Aberdeenshire, pigs were slaughtered to supply shops for the first time since the ban on live stock movements was imposed. Licences to slaughter were issued to 170 abattoirs in England yesterday.
Lorries carrying the stock have to be disinfected before loading and after delivery.
The only other livestock being moved were in danger of drowning because of flooding but plans are being drawn up to move sheep ready for lambing down from the hills. Nick Brown, the minister of agriculture, said one of the matters to be considered after the outbreak was over was whether swill feeding should be stopped altogether. Swill remains the chief suspect for how the outbreak began. To cope with the crisis the Ministry of Agriculture's 220 field vets have been augmented by 240 volunteers. Work has started on disinfecting abattoirs and farms affected by the disease where the animals have been destroyed.