FORAGE produced by the 8,500 farms slaughtered out as a result of foot-and-mouth will make an important contribution to bridging the gap between livestock numbers and reduced fodder stocks this winter, says the National Beef Association.

It wants the sea of grass in 'hot spot' areas where vast numbers of sheep and cattle have been slaughtered to be turned into hay and silage either to feed replacement animals after re-stocking or to be sold to holdings which will be short of winter keep because they have been over-stocked.

"Defra has told us that hay or bagged silage made on infected premises (IPs) can be sold off to other farms as soon the holding has been signed off as cleansed and disinfected," said Mr Robert Forster, NBA chief executive.

"There is no reason for farms taken out as IPs, dangerous contacts or as part of the contiguous cull to hold back from making fodder which can either earn some useful cash or give confidence to take part in the post-foot-and-mouth re-stocking programme."

"A combination of movement restrictions and slaughter programmes has created a mighty imbalance between the location of stock and the availability of forage," said Mr Forster. "Everything possible must be done to bring the two together."

l The NBA has told Defra that severe stocking pressures on farms hit by Form D restrictions would be eased quickly if slaughtered-out neighbouring farms could buy animals from them.

It wants the department to acknowledge this, as it establishes the framework for a national re-stocking programme when thousands of empty farms are signed off as free of foot-and-mouth and can begin to get back to business this autumn.

Mr Forster said farms in line for re-stocking had abundant forage and grass. If they could take animals from over-stocked neighbouring holdings two problems would be solved.