Devon records 35th foot-and-mouth case

The number of confirmed foot-and-mouth cases in Devon has risen to 35.

Two were confirmed this afternoon in the parishes of Monkokehampton and Iddesleigh, and one earlier today at Northlew.

A total of 41 cattle and 78 sheep will be slaughtered at Monkokehampton, where 900 pigs were destroyed earlier in the week.

At Iddesleigh, 650 sheep and 250 cattle will be put down, and at Northlew 1,000 sheep and 430 cattle will be killed.

Meanwhile, MAFF began to use a rendering plant in Exeter to help with the disposal of the backlog of slaughtered carcasses from farms across the county.

The move followed criticism from farmers about delays in the disposal of cattle and sheep slaughtered.

Until now carcasses in the county not burned on pyres have been taken to a plant in Cheshire for rendering.

Once the carcasses have been rendered at the Exeter plant, the product will be taken elsewhere for incineration.

A total of 3,381 slaughtered cattle and sheep from Devon have so far been sent for rendering, MAFF said.