The Livestock Markets Roadshow, run by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), will be at Melton Mowbray Market, Scalford Road, Melton Mowbray, on Tuesday 18 March, and at Market Harborough Market, Foxton Road, Lubenham, on Wednesday 19 March. Representatives from Defra will be on hand to talk to farmers and answer questions about disease prevention, management and reporting. Leaflets and other information will also be available.
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Farming and Animal Health and Welfare, said:
"The Livestock Markets Roadshow is an excellent opportunity for us to communicate important information to the farming community about notifiable diseases, the need for vigilance, and animal welfare requirements.
"In light of the recent disease outbreaks in the UK, we really need to help farmers implement best practice so that together we can take steps to combat future disease outbreaks and the damage they cause to the farming industry."
The roadshow will focus particularly on:
- bluetongue - farmers in the zones should be vigilant and report any signs of disease promptly
- welfare and transport - since 5 January 2008, it has been a legal requirement for all transporters and livestock road hauliers to have transporter authorisations and competency certificates when transporting livestock (poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and equidae) for distances of over 65km and in connection with an economic activity
- bovine TB (bTB): best practice husbandry advice to reduce the risk of bTB transmission and the use of pre-movement testing, which aims to reduce the risk of spreading bTB through movements of cattle
- biosecurity: advice on prevention of a range of diseases including foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza and bovine TB.
