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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Foot-and-mouth ban at farm shows | Foot-and-mouth ban at farm shows |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Three major agricultural shows in Scotland are going ahead this weekend without cows, sheep and goats, due to foot-and-mouth restrictions. | Three major agricultural shows in Scotland are going ahead this weekend without cows, sheep and goats, due to foot-and-mouth restrictions. |
| A nationwide ban on the movement of the animals was put in place after tests proved positive on cattle in Surrey. | A nationwide ban on the movement of the animals was put in place after tests proved positive on cattle in Surrey. |
| Large shows at Dumfries and Turriff have been hit by the restrictions which prevent the movement of livestock. | Large shows at Dumfries and Turriff have been hit by the restrictions which prevent the movement of livestock. |
| Saturday was the second day of the Perth Show and organisers said they had acted quickly to take precautions. | |
| The discovery on a farm in Surrey has brought back vivid memories of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001, which had a devastating impact on the UK's farming industry and tourism. | The discovery on a farm in Surrey has brought back vivid memories of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001, which had a devastating impact on the UK's farming industry and tourism. |
| We lost all our stock in 2001 so it really sent a shiver down the spine Willie DavidsonFarmer First test for new minister Send us your comments | We lost all our stock in 2001 so it really sent a shiver down the spine Willie DavidsonFarmer First test for new minister Send us your comments |
| It led to the slaughter of between 6.5 and 10 million animals, ruined many farmers and rural businesses and is estimated to have cost the country up to £8.5bn. | It led to the slaughter of between 6.5 and 10 million animals, ruined many farmers and rural businesses and is estimated to have cost the country up to £8.5bn. |
| Thousands of people attend Scotland's agricultural shows, which are highlights of the agricultural calendar. | Thousands of people attend Scotland's agricultural shows, which are highlights of the agricultural calendar. |
| Bruce Ferguson, of the Turriff Show, said: "It is definitely a big blow. Turriff is one of the biggest shows in the country. | Bruce Ferguson, of the Turriff Show, said: "It is definitely a big blow. Turriff is one of the biggest shows in the country. |
| "Not to have any cattle sheep or goats there is almost unthinkable." | "Not to have any cattle sheep or goats there is almost unthinkable." |
| Notices at the Dumfries show offered advice to farmers | Notices at the Dumfries show offered advice to farmers |
| He said there would still be a strong horse and pony entry and more than 300 trade stands at the show, which starts on Sunday. | He said there would still be a strong horse and pony entry and more than 300 trade stands at the show, which starts on Sunday. |
| Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I would like to reassure all livestock keepers that these are precautionary measures. | Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "I would like to reassure all livestock keepers that these are precautionary measures. |
| "We are in close contact with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland's interests are being protected. | "We are in close contact with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland's interests are being protected. |
| "We are taking all steps to minimise disruption to rural activities but biosecurity is of utmost importance. | "We are taking all steps to minimise disruption to rural activities but biosecurity is of utmost importance. |
| "I appreciate that this will be a blow to those involved in the agricultural shows in many parts of Scotland. I have spoken to the organisers of major shows. | "I appreciate that this will be a blow to those involved in the agricultural shows in many parts of Scotland. I have spoken to the organisers of major shows. |
| "Despite necessary movement restrictions on livestock there are no restrictions on the public and these important events will go ahead." | "Despite necessary movement restrictions on livestock there are no restrictions on the public and these important events will go ahead." |
| FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment | FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cattleSymptoms include fever, lesions in the mouth and lamenessThe disease only crosses the species barrier from cattle to human with very great difficultyThe disease in humans is mild, short-lived and requires no medical treatment |
| James Withers, the deputy chief executive of NFU Scotland, said there was "significant concern" among Scottish farmers. | James Withers, the deputy chief executive of NFU Scotland, said there was "significant concern" among Scottish farmers. |
| "Memories of 2001 are obviously raw but this is one case at the moment," he said. | "Memories of 2001 are obviously raw but this is one case at the moment," he said. |
| "There has been six years of contingency planning since the last outbreak. | "There has been six years of contingency planning since the last outbreak. |
| "We knew this disease would come back - it was a case of if not when, hence the amount of planning that has been undertaken and which is now kicking into gear." | "We knew this disease would come back - it was a case of if not when, hence the amount of planning that has been undertaken and which is now kicking into gear." |
| Neil Forbes, secretary of Perth Show, described the news from Surrey as "tragic". | Neil Forbes, secretary of Perth Show, described the news from Surrey as "tragic". |
| Going ahead | Going ahead |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland: "We have Charolais on the showground at the present moment. | He told BBC Radio Scotland: "We have Charolais on the showground at the present moment. |
| "We're isolating that area completely and the ministry and animal health vets are coming in and checking them and then we will remove them off site. | "We're isolating that area completely and the ministry and animal health vets are coming in and checking them and then we will remove them off site. |
| "We won't have any cattle, sheep or goats on the site, but we are going ahead with our Clydesdales, Highland ponies and Shetland ponies and trying to make a show of it. | "We won't have any cattle, sheep or goats on the site, but we are going ahead with our Clydesdales, Highland ponies and Shetland ponies and trying to make a show of it. |
| "We have had lot of support, we've been on the phone to exhibitors and judges and everybody agrees with what we are doing, but we must abide by the regulations. | "We have had lot of support, we've been on the phone to exhibitors and judges and everybody agrees with what we are doing, but we must abide by the regulations. |
| "We just have to go by the health of the animals and look after the countryside." | "We just have to go by the health of the animals and look after the countryside." |
| Images like this have returned to haunt farmers | Images like this have returned to haunt farmers |
| Willie Davidson, who farms at Poldean near Moffat and is chairman of the Dumfries and Lockerbie Show, said: "We lost all our stock on 13 March 2001 so it really sent a shiver down the spine last night. | Willie Davidson, who farms at Poldean near Moffat and is chairman of the Dumfries and Lockerbie Show, said: "We lost all our stock on 13 March 2001 so it really sent a shiver down the spine last night. |
| "My biggest concern is that government didn't really take it seriously enough, especially at the ports of entry into the country. | "My biggest concern is that government didn't really take it seriously enough, especially at the ports of entry into the country. |
| "The good thing I would say has come out of this is that we were told right away last night that there was a danger. | "The good thing I would say has come out of this is that we were told right away last night that there was a danger. |
| "When the confirmation came through we put a plan into action to stop animals coming to the show, but the show is actually going ahead today". | "When the confirmation came through we put a plan into action to stop animals coming to the show, but the show is actually going ahead today". |
| Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, said: "Speed is of the essence here. | Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, said: "Speed is of the essence here. |
| "We have got to really stop this virus spreading, obviously first of all to stamp it out in the locality where it has been identified and then see whether the virus has got anywhere else." | "We have got to really stop this virus spreading, obviously first of all to stamp it out in the locality where it has been identified and then see whether the virus has got anywhere else." |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has opened a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577. | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has opened a helpline in response to the latest outbreak on 08459 335577. |
| The Scottish government has also set up a helpline for farmers on 0845 1553366. | The Scottish government has also set up a helpline for farmers on 0845 1553366. |