FARMERS have voted overwhelmingly to expand the bluetongue protection zone nationwide to stop restrictions crippling their trade.

The mass show of hands took place at a National Farmers’ Union meeting attended by up to 400, at Ashford Market.

Farmers complain that movement restrictions affect their work, stopping livestock being taken outside the government protection zone for slaughter, winter feeding and fattening.

James Mulleneux, NFU regional livestock policy adviser, said:

“We are all aware of the hugely devastating impact these restrictions are having on farmers.

“The zones must stay for two seasons so we are looking for a minimum of 18 months.”

Since the outbreak of bluetongue disease last month, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has imposed a control zone in East Anglia, where the disease broke out, and eastern Essex, where new cases have been reported.

There is also a wider protection zone covering all Kent and stretching as far north as Lincolnshire.

The restrictions have to stay for up to two years.

The meeting heard that slaughterhouses within the protection zone only had a capacity for 10,500 cattle a month when there was a present demand for 18,000.

They could only deal with 60,000 to 65,000 sheep a month when there was a demand to get through 110,000.

Richard Wood, senior auctioneer for Hobbs Parker at the market, told the meeting: “We’re all in this together.

“I am not sabre rattling but if this goes on for another 18 months Ashford cattle market may no longer be viable.”

Farmers have also called on Defra to get behind companies working on producing vaccinations for the disease.

The meeting heard that two companies were working on them with vaccinations expected to be made by early spring and tests for licensing in July or August.

The meeting, attended by farmers from as far as Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, was also to discuss foot and mouth disease.

Organisers passed around a petition deploring the “circumstances and lack of investment” that led to the escape of foot and mouth into Surrey this year.

It also urges the government to compensate farmers for their losses.

* For more, see Thursday's Kentish Express