Unprecedented animal cull
(From The Japan Times May 28 issue)

畜産史上最大規模の殺処分

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki Prefecture shows no sign of abating more than a month after it began. The central government's measures include vaccinating cattle and pigs within a radius of 10 km from farms affected by the disease, and killing them later.

As a result, some 320,000 cattle and pigs have been or will be destroyed — an unprecedented scale of disposal for Japan's livestock industry. By May 25, 99.6 percent of some 125,200 cattle and pigs picked for vaccination had been vaccinated

One of the 55 seed bulls owned by the Miyazaki Prefectural Government was destroyed May 21 after it showed symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease. Forty-nine others are to be destroyed. The entire seed bull stock could be wiped out if the remaining five are not free of infection. The seed bull that was destroyed and the remaining five have provided 90 percent of the sperm used for cattle production in Miyazaki Prefecture. The destruction of all seed bulls would devastate the livestock industry in the prefecture. Raising a seed bull is said to take seven years or longer.

The livestock industry in Mie and Shiga prefectures could also suffer because young cattle from Miyazaki Prefecture are brought there to produce famous-brand beef such as Matsuzaka and Omi. The National Livestock Breeding Center, an independent administrative agency, is considering whether to offer several bulls to Miyazaki Prefecture to serve as seed bulls.

The Diet was expected to enact a special bill to cope with foot-and-mouth disease May 28, legally empowering the government to order the destruction of even unaffected animals. Some \100 billion will be spent for compensation and other measures. The central and local governments must explain the situation to affected farmers to get their full cooperation. Many farmers must be distraught over the loss of their animals. Not only monetary compensation but also psychological help must be extended to them. It is also important that experts determine the source and route of the foot-and-mouth disease infection.

宮崎県で発生した口蹄疫の被害は拡大を続けている。政府の防疫対策は口蹄疫が発生した農場から半径10キロ以内の牛豚にワクチンを接種し全頭処分する内容だ。その結果、日本の畜産史上初めての規模の殺処分が行なわれている。

宮崎県保有の種牛55頭のうち1頭が処分され、49頭が処分対象、残る5頭が感染すれば県の種牛が全滅する。最初の1頭と残る5頭は県の繁殖用の精液供給9割を賄っていた。

子牛の出荷先である松阪牛や近江牛の産地も打撃を受けそうだ。独立行政法人家畜改良センターは宮崎への種牛提供を検討している。

国会は未感染の家畜も強制処分させる特別措置法の成立を目指し、損失補償など1000億円の財政措置を講じる。畜産農家には政府と地方自治体による状況説明が必要だ。精神的ケアや専門家による感染源とルートの解明も重要である。