Cattle may be spared if there is adequate biosecurity. This will be a matter for local veterinary judgement, taking account of all the circumstances. MAFF have published guidance, agreed with the veterinary profession, on the biosecurity measures which farmers can take to help protect their animals from infection. Where cattle are not culled they will be subject to regular veterinary patrols. These refinements will not lead to change in the policy of culling of pigs and sheep on contiguous premises.
Pigs pose a high disease risk and can spread the virus rapidly.
Sheep can carry the disease without showing symptoms, thereby causing further undetected spread. Nucleus breeding flocks of rare breeds of sheep of particular genetic merit may be spared in the national interest, provided they can be isolated from other susceptible livestock and managed in compliance with tight biosecurity. In addition separate guidance is being produced for hefted sheep. The Government accepts the case for vaccinating cattle in North Cumbria and possibly Devon, given the particular issues in those regions, particularly the intensity of infection in certain areas and the turnout of cattle from indoor housing to outdoor grazing, but only if the vaccination programme is supported by a substantial majority of the farming community, by veterinarians, by the wider food industry and by consumers. That level of support is not there and the signs are that it will not now be achieved.