NEWS IN BRIEF: Markets roadshow to tour region

9:49am Tuesday 4th March 2008

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A LIVESTOCK markets roadshow is visiting the region.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) roadshow will emphasise the need for vigilance and rapid reporting of animal diseases such as bovine TB and bluetongue. It will cover existing legislation, the new EU welfare and transport regulations, pre-movement testing and ear-tagging. The marts include Barnard Castle, on March 11; Middleton-in- Teesdale, on March 18; and Hexham, on April 8.

FREE EVENT: The English Beef and Lamb Executive holds a free event for sheep farmers at Busby Stoop abattoir, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on Monday, between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

The event covers handling animals to assess their readiness for slaughter and how to increase returns by reducing carcass damage and stress, and presenting clean animals for slaughter. Places are limited to eight per session. To book, call 0870-609-1840.

DISEASE SEMINARS: Seminars on Government plans to make farmers share the cost of animal disease outbreaks take place at St William's College, York, on Thursday, and Newcastle Falcons, Kingston Park, Newcastle, on Friday, March 14. The seminars are free, but places must be booked.

Call 0207-238-5758 or email rcsworkshops@defra.gsi.gov.uk MEADOW MANAGEMENT: The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership will hold two meadow management workshops for new, small-scale farmers at the Masonic Hall, Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, on Monday, at 6.30pm, and in Allendale Village Hall, Allendale, next Wednesday, at 10am. The events are free and no booking is required.

MART MEETINGS: The National Sheep Association will hold bluetongue information meetings on Thursday, March 20, at Penrith auction mart, at 1pm, and Hexham mart, at 6pm.

The meetings will explain the facts about the disease, the control strategies in place, and vaccination. Places can be booked on 01684-892-661. For more details, email enquiries@ nationalsheep.org.uk