Last updated at 09:01, Friday, 15 May 2009

Scottish buyers have been steering clear of store cattle sales in the north of England because animals have not been vaccinated against bluetongue, according to the National Beef Association.

The association claims farmers could improve competition for their stock during the rest of the spring if they vaccinated.

Director Kim Haywood said: “Scotland finished a compulsory bluetongue vaccination programme at the end of April and Scottish feeders are looking for cattle they can turn out immediately to grass – instead of holding them in yards for an additional month until they complete the vaccination course themselves.

“Similar problems are anticipated at the north of England’s breeding sales if Scottish buyers decide to stay away from these too because too few cattle have completed their bluetongue protection.”

The National Beef Association is backing a National Sheep Association (NSA) plan, to top slice Single Farm Payments and pool the money for payment to certain categories of enterprise.

The NSA has calculated that if a further six per cent of SFP is top sliced, bringing the total deduction to the 10 per cent maximum, a further £28m could be made available for hill farmers.

First published at 05:16, Friday, 15 May 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk