Iain Richards is a South Lakeland vet

Two items of news have highlighted the need for all livestock owners to be aware of the risks of bringing disease onto their holdings.

The first was the indication that Defra would ease the six-day standstill for animal movements.

In place following the 2001 FMD epidemic, this was an attempt to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

However, at certain times of year, it creates real problems.

The second item was the call from the Royal College of Pathology for Defra to reverse the policy of closing veterinary investigation laboratories.

Although much surveillance work will be done by vets in practice, what will be lost is the investigation service and knowledge base in those labs.

DEFRA seems to be creating ideal conditions for disease spread by removing any barriers to movement and at the same time reducing the disease surveillance capacity.

There are many excellent reasons for placing new or returning stock into quaran-tine before introducing them to the rest of the farm.

Not least the benefits in preventing many common diseases that cost time and money to treat.