Mad cow scare hits livestock hauliers
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by Derren Hayes • Livestock hauliers across the country are reporting large drops in business because of fears about the safety of beef.
Some scientists believe the fatal BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), more commonly known as mad cow disease, could be passed on to humans through eating some parts of the animal. Recent drops in beef sales have meant the number of cows being transported for slaughter in the UK has fallen significantly.
Transfrigoroute, the reefer operators association, also warned that while there had been little effect so far, if the scare continues it is bound to hit frozen carcass carriers too. Transfrigoroute UK secretary Liam 011iff says: "If not as much beef is being sold the demand for road carrying will inevitably be reduced."
Eddie Harper, chairman of the RHA Livestock Carriers Group and manager of Somerset-based A George and Sons, says: "The publicity is really hammering the beef industry and the effects are starting to be felt by hauliers. Trade is definitely down as livestock that would usually go to market has been held back because farmers can't afford to sell it because the price has fallen so low."
Carlislebased livestock haulier T Bell and Sons says business has been damaged more than when the last mad cow scare hit the headlines five years ago: "The number of jobs we are getting has reduced and it will only get worse," says owner Jeff Bell.
Graham Gilder of Gloucestershirebased Graham Gilder Haulage says his cattle trade has been badly hit. He says: "The three weeks leading up to .,et Christmas is usually our busiest peri od," he says, "but it's gone very quiet." Mad or not, the beef trade is being hit by the health scare.