AN OKEHAMPTON farmer whose animals were saved from slaughter three weeks ago after a mistaken diagnosis was rescinded is devastated that an outbreak has taken hold on his farm.
Because of the Government's contiguous cull policy, thousands of animals which fringe Dartmoor have had to be killed after David Heard's farm was confirmed with the disease.
Speaking to the Okehampton Times this week Mr Heard, of Place Farm, said he had lived in fear of the disease for six weeks but he thought after the recent scare he might be lucky.
'It looked like the outbreaks were quietening down a bit and I was hoping I had got away with it but it seems to have flared up again,' he said.
'I have no idea where it came from — it's totally devastating.'
Mr Heard sought a second opinion three weeks ago when his cattle showed signs of improving after they were initially diagnosed with foot and mouth disease. They were later found to have laminitis.
Because of the consequences for the eight neighbouring farms, Mr Heard enlisted the help of West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett to try and stop the cull and eventually the confirmation of foot and mouth at Place Farm was rescinded but he described the experience as a 'living hell'.
Mr Heard said losing his animals — 200 cattle and 600 sheep — was much worse than the fear and he was just sorry 20,000 animals had to be killed because of the outbreak.
'Everybody has lost everything around here — there are no sheep around for miles,' he said. 'It's not just the killing but also the cleaning of the sheds, moving the dead animals and seeing them lying in the yard for days which is so hard to deal with.'
MAFF are currently deciding what to do with Mr Heard's 200 sheep which graze on Dartmoor.