Confusion reigns at breeding farm

Confusion surrounds the status of one of Scotland's top cattle breeding farm as the number of foot and mouth cases north of the border rose.

The Scottish Executive listed Gretna House Farm in Dumfries and Galloway as one of the total of 23 confirmed cases of the disease.

But the farm's owner, Alasdair Houston, 39, says he believes it is only suspected of having the disease and said he is still awaiting the results of tests.

The 750-acre farm has 160 pedigree Charolais and Simmental beef cattle, which were bred from stock originally imported from Europe in the late 1960s.

If his farm is confirmed as having the disease, Mr Houston stands to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"Of course the financial impact could be severe but it is not just the money that I am worried about, it is the emotional attachment and life's work that I am scared of losing," he said.

"I am awaiting results of tests and it is devastating. I just want to find out one way or another. "

The Executive says Gretna House farm had been listed as a confirmed case on Saturday.

A spokeswoman added: "These are the figures we have from the State Veterinary Service which is working its way through a large number of cases. This is the information we have at the moment."

Mr Houston added: "I think the Government is doing the right things to control the disease and I agree with the slaughter of animals rather than vaccination, but the whole thing is just grotesque."