A LIVESTOCK auctioneer says his Colchester business is facing a huge downturn after farmers were swept into Bluetongue zone to stop animal movements.
Movement restrictions were expanded to include the whole of Suffolk and Norfolk this weekend after more cases of the potentially deadly virus were found in sheep flocks.
The disease is not a threat to human health but can be fatal to animals such as sheep and cattle.
It's suspected that the latest cases were infected by midges blown over the Channel from Holland or Belgium where the disease has taken hold.
Colchester market auctioneer Graham Ellis said Suffolk and Norfolk sheep made up 60 per cent of animals sold last week - so his business is now facing a huge downturn.
He is trying to bring in more animals mainly from Essex and Hertfordshire to the auction which is based on Severalls Industrial Estate.
The situation had changed dramatically in the last seven days, he said.
"Hopefully that will enable us to get some numbers back but it's hard," he said.
"Suffolk and Norfolk are big stock areas. Next week we may all be in the zone - who knows where it's going?"
He added: "It's just extra work. We have got farmers who want to sell to us who can't which is annoying and frustrating.
"In a week we have gone from limited restriction to two counties being fully restricted."
Farmer Chris Reeks, of La Hogue Farm Shop, said he can't take his lambs to the Colchester livestock market because of the restrictions.
He said: "The uncertainty is quite worrying to be honest with you - both for cattle and sheep farmers.
"In a couple of weeks I would be looking to sell fat lambs at Colchester but as it stands I can't.
"Farmers are talking to each other obviously and supporting each other. We are the only once between us that understand it and understand the challenges being constantly thrown at us."
A case of bluetongue was confirmed in Britain on March 8 2024, and between November 2023 and March this year there were 126 cases – 119 in cattle and seven in sheep – in England on 73 premises in four counties.
It was the first outbreak of bluetongue in Britain since 2007, when farmers were also battling bird flu and foot and mouth disease.
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