Animal health issues dominated this week's cattle news. The EC has announced that it is providing a budget of €223 million to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in the EU-27 over the year 2009. Bluetongue disease has been singled out as a priority. French producers, which struggled with over 32,000 cases last year, are also launching a strategic attack on the disease.

In Britain, the compensation claims from producers affected by the Pirbright Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2007 were dismissed by the high-court. The National Farmers Union not only expressed their disappointment in this decision, but also in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) proposals for a nine per cent rise in meat inspection charges at abattoirs. They say the proposal is "inappropriate", "ill-judged" and "unaffordable".

Meanwhile, BSE reared its ugly head in a Northern state of the Czech Republic. Culls are to follow.
Adam Anson

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