Bobby Waugh

Originally from: frances fish
                        
Dear Andrew, Read your E-mail. Don't think anyone would argue that wor Bobby was a dirty farmer, apparently not bad enough for Defra to intervene to close him down after a recent inspection prior to the manure hitting the fan though ! I think to accuse him of being the start/cause of the FMD epidemic would be much more contentious and it obviously(if you look into it ) is not true. In that repect I think a little sympathy might be extended to Mr Waugh on those grounds alone.It really depends what you mean by "Bobby Waugh is innocent".He is most certainly not guilty of starting the FMD epidemic and he has most assuredly been accused of this by this government.I cannot imagine the stress and the burden this individual has had to bear. I am sure he has been pilloried by all and sundry. If, however, all mucky farmers were prosecuted for that offence then I think their numbers would be legion. By its very nature farming is not a clean occupation, most especially where livestock are involved. I have a-mental picture of cows and sheep in nappies !Best Wishes Frances

Originally from: and
                        

Originally from: and
                        
From: ...

Originally from UKBA today:

An horrific picture of the pig unit where vets detected the first case in Britain's foot and mouth epidemic was given at the opening of the farmer's trial on cruelty and animal health charges yesterday.
Pig carcasses submerged in animal faeces were found during the official clean-up of Burnside farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, along with raw unprocessed swill and a pig's severed hind leg stuffed into a pile of plastic bags.

But the court at the trial of Bobby Waugh, 56, of Pallion in Sunderland, was told that the case was not about allocating blame for the national catastrophe, which saw one in eight of Britain's farm animals slaughtered and affected 9,677 farms.

Paddy Cosgrove QC, prosecuting on behalf of Northumberland county council, said that no charges of causing the outbreak had been laid against Waugh. He added, however, that evidence given at the three week trial at Bedlington magistrates court was likely to be considered by the government's inquiries into the cause and handling of the epidemic.

Waugh, who has bought, fattened and sold pigs on smallholdings for 40 years, denies 16 charges of flouting animal health regulations, causing cruelty to his pigs, failing to dispose of animal by-products and not bothering to keep records of pig purchases. His brother, Ronny, joint owner of the business, originally faced similar charges but these have been adjourned indefinitely because of his ill health. Waugh spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.

Mr Cosgrove told district judge James Prowse that Waugh had failed to ensure that his kitchen swill was properly heated. He had then failed to alert the authorities to the blisters and raw ulcers of foot and mouth which were found last February to be affecting 80% of his 527 animals.

"These animals underwent real suffering," said Mr Cosgrove, outlining four cruelty charges which can carry custodial sentences. "The lesions on them could not have been missed by an observer, particularly by a daily observer such as the defendant admitted to being, and especially by an experienced observer, which the defendant undoubtedly was."

Mr Cosgrove said that the reporting of foot and mouth suspicions was crucial as the disease was "perhaps the most infectious known to man". The first warning of the subsequent catastrophe came on February 19 last year when affected meat was found at Cheal's abbatoir in Essex, which the Waughs supplied.

Government vets contacted 600 other contractors before visiting Burnside farm on February 22 and discovering the virulence of the outbreak. Two specialists from Purbright laboratory, the world centre of excellence on foot and mouth research, also scoured the farm, but, Mr Cosgrove said: "Both of the Waugh brothers indicated wrongly and falsely that nothing was wrong with their pigs."

The court heard that some of the pigs had suffered the disease for 12 days before the vets arrived – and worse was to emerge when the unit was closed and cleaned. Mr Cosgrove said: "There is much evidence to show there was a mass of unprocessed waste on the premises." The pig carcasses buried in filth were also unearthed, along with raw meat, bones and the stink of animal remains in an advanced state of decomposition.

Originally from: and
                        
From: ...

Originally from UKBA today:

An horrific picture of the pig unit where vets detected the first case in Britain's foot and mouth epidemic was given at the opening of the farmer's trial on cruelty and animal health charges yesterday.
Pig carcasses submerged in animal faeces were found during the official clean-up of Burnside farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, along with raw unprocessed swill and a pig's severed hind leg stuffed into a pile of plastic bags.

But the court at the trial of Bobby Waugh, 56, of Pallion in Sunderland, was told that the case was not about allocating blame for the national catastrophe, which saw one in eight of Britain's farm animals slaughtered and affected 9,677 farms.

Paddy Cosgrove QC, prosecuting on behalf of Northumberland county council, said that no charges of causing the outbreak had been laid against Waugh. He added, however, that evidence given at the three week trial at Bedlington magistrates court was likely to be considered by the government's inquiries into the cause and handling of the epidemic.

Waugh, who has bought, fattened and sold pigs on smallholdings for 40 years, denies 16 charges of flouting animal health regulations, causing cruelty to his pigs, failing to dispose of animal by-products and not bothering to keep records of pig purchases. His brother, Ronny, joint owner of the business, originally faced similar charges but these have been adjourned indefinitely because of his ill health. Waugh spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.

Mr Cosgrove told district judge James Prowse that Waugh had failed to ensure that his kitchen swill was properly heated. He had then failed to alert the authorities to the blisters and raw ulcers of foot and mouth which were found last February to be affecting 80% of his 527 animals.

"These animals underwent real suffering," said Mr Cosgrove, outlining four cruelty charges which can carry custodial sentences. "The lesions on them could not have been missed by an observer, particularly by a daily observer such as the defendant admitted to being, and especially by an experienced observer, which the defendant undoubtedly was."

Mr Cosgrove said that the reporting of foot and mouth suspicions was crucial as the disease was "perhaps the most infectious known to man". The first warning of the subsequent catastrophe came on February 19 last year when affected meat was found at Cheal's abbatoir in Essex, which the Waughs supplied.

Government vets contacted 600 other contractors before visiting Burnside farm on February 22 and discovering the virulence of the outbreak. Two specialists from Purbright laboratory, the world centre of excellence on foot and mouth research, also scoured the farm, but, Mr Cosgrove said: "Both of the Waugh brothers indicated wrongly and falsely that nothing was wrong with their pigs."

The court heard that some of the pigs had suffered the disease for 12 days before the vets arrived – and worse was to emerge when the unit was closed and cleaned. Mr Cosgrove said: "There is much evidence to show there was a mass of unprocessed waste on the premises." The pig carcasses buried in filth were also unearthed, along with raw meat, bones and the stink of animal remains in an advanced state of decomposition.

Originally from: Joyce
                        
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/

 "The farmer who started Britain's £20billion foot-and-mouth epidemic is back trading in pigs – just days after he was BANNED from keeping live animals."

Originally from: MargotM
                        
Do you not think it might be advisable to wait and see if Waugh sues before you do this Roger?

Originally from: Roger Walker
                        
Though I would never condone the actions of Bobby Waugh and the way he run his farm, this kind of journalism sickens me. In view of yesterdays report on Farmtalking from Bruce Jobson, this reporter is obviously prepared to go to any length to get a story and facts and the truth don't seem to come into it. I'm going to write to this journalist and tell him exactly what I think of his style of reporting and I hope others do the same.

Originally from: Roger Walker
                        
I have already wrote to him and I hope Bobby Waugh does sue him
Roger

Originally from: MargotM
                        
And I shall wait with bated breath to see if either Waugh sues or the Sunday Mirror retracts

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
I have also written to the reporter at the Sunday Mirror.

In view the fact that Farmtaking published the report from Bruce Jobson early yesterday afternoon, it is a matter of great concern that a national newspaper should continue to futher hound a man who is in poor health, has been found guilty and is serving his sentence.

To do so serves no good purpose and is damaging not only to Bobby Waugh but to the reputations of Darlington Mart and Cheale Meats.

A copy of my e-mail to the Sunday Mirror reporter is below.

Dear Mr Johnson,

In view of the information received by Farmtalking.org and published on the website early yesterday afternoon, it would seem a retraction and apology from yourself and the Sunday Mirror to both Bobby Waugh, the Darlington Mart and Cheale Meats is in order.

Yours sincerely,
Jane Barribal – Farmtalking

Originally from: chris stockdale
                        
Sorry, what have I missed (haymaking etc.and no Warmwell again) ; what is this about suspect animals in late 2000?
 Best wishes, Chris.

Originally from: Bill
                        
Well done Bobby Waugh for sticking to his guns and insisting swill from the Chinese was not infected. Would that perhaps be because he has a pretty good idea where the infected material came from? Where was it MAFF were sending suspect animals
in November 2000??? and why were MAFF closely monitoring Bobby's animals???
                        

Originally from: Bill
                        
The suspect animals (cattle) were from the Dumfries and Galloway area where there was intense MAFF activity during late 2000. According to my source the animals were sent to a well known meat company for slaughter.

Indications are the disease was already well established long before being discovered (after close monitoring) in Bobby Waugh's animals. The biggest problem is the tests don't work too well as I am sure others with experience of the disease will confirm. A copy letter I have (from DEFRA dated June 2001) reads as follows,

"The samples submitted to the laboratory following confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease on your holding have tested negative for the disease. The fact that the laboratory results are negative does not however mean that foot-and-mouth disease was not present in the stock on your premises......................etc."
                        

Originally from: and
                        

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Hello Bill –

Yes, I think we all agree that FMD was in the Country long before February 2001. However, obtaining absolute proof of this has so far eluded us.

The Government has chosen to state the fact that they ordered timber etc in 2000, was part of their 'contingency plans'. However, they seriously failed in their duty by ignoring the 'contingency plan' they were supposed to put in place according to the EU, which included vaccination. (See the Booker/North Article 'Silence of the Damned' published in the Sunday Times and available at http://www.farmtalking.com/news_north_silence280702.html).

With regard to the tests – it is another 'myth' that they are not very good and although you received a negative result from the tests on your animals, the fact that you were told this did not necessarily mean disease was not present in your livestock, is not an indication that the tests are not extremely accurate, but rather an attempt by MAFF/SERAD/DEFRA to justify their slaughter of millions of 'healthy' animals on grounds of a very spurious 'maybe'.

The facts of the matter are, your animals were among the millions of others also healthy and uninfected, the test results prove that to be the case. DEFRA realised that for many farmers this would be devastating and therefore chose to ameliorate the news by suggesting this extremely unlikely possibility. (See also Dr. Paul Kitching's Definitive evidence at http://www.farmtalking.org/science_kiching_test.html).

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes – Jane

Originally from: and
                        

Originally from: and
                        

Originally from: frances fish
                        
Dear Bill, Hello. What your communication from Defra actually says is that the animals tested negative for Foot and Mouth disease, they always choose their words with care (consider that this may not have been the virus we were told it was and they may have been telling the truth, at least according to their lights !). An intersting piece of news today being that the millions spent on smallpox vaccine in case of a Bio-terrorist attack,is no use according to the USA, as the bug used in such an instance differs from the norm !Now, call me cynical if you like but I find it of note that the drug company producing the vaccine we have purchased just happens, so I'm told, to have contributed a substantial sum to the Labour Party. Why do they call themselves "new" labour ? Corruption is as old as time, look at Adam, poor man !

Originally from: frances fish
                        
Dear Bill, Hello. What your communication from Defra actually says is that the animals tested negative for Foot and Mouth disease, they always choose their words with care (consider that this may not have been the virus we were told it was and they may have been telling the truth, at least according to their lights !). An intersting piece of news today being that the millions spent on smallpox vaccine in case of a Bio-terrorist attack,is no use according to the USA, as the bug used in such an instance differs from the norm !Now, call me cynical if you like but I find it of note that the drug company producing the vaccine we have purchased just happens, so I'm told, to have contributed a substantial sum to the Labour Party. Why do they call themselves "new" labour ? Corruption is as old as time, look at Adam, poor man !

Originally from: Bill
                        
How often do your animals have to be checked if you are a licensed swill feeder? Bobby Waugh's were checked at least twice in the first weeks of 2001.

In 2000 MAFF couldn't declare a new outbreak without positive test results and positive results can be difficult to obtain. ELISA depends on sufficient quantity of (stained) antibody in blood being identified by a lab technician (usually some spotty article with rings through its nose) The technician has to make the distinction between fluorescent pink (or green) and slightly brighter fluorescent pink (or green).

Depending on initial viral dose it could be anything up to 12 weeks before the animal has sufficient antibody to be detected. As you can see there could be a full scale epidemic before there is a positive test result, as happened last time and as more likely than not will happen next time.