Jersey: investigation into 112 cattle deaths ongoing
A Major investigation is continuing to seek the cause of the illness that killed 112 cattle on a dairy farm in St Helier.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Island’s farming community, with more than three-quarters of the 137-strong Jersey herd at Woodlands Farm, which is based at Rue de Maupertuis, having died.
Although contaminated feed was initially blamed, Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf said the investigation would need to consider other factors.
He said: ‘It seems like cattle on other farms have had the same feed without there being any effects, so it’ll be necessary to look at whether there are other factors that are specific to this group.’
The cattle affected were all from the high-yielding ‘group A’ herd at Woodlands. The farm also has a separate ‘group B’ herd of around 100 cattle that has not been affected.
Deputy Renouf said he had been advised that 25 cattle from the affected group have survived so far and that it was hoped the death toll would not rise further.
He said: ‘I’m reassured to hear that no milk from the specifically affected sub-herd has entered the food chain, and that every precaution has been taken to safeguard public and animal health.’
Philip Le Maistre, chairman of the Milk Marketing Board, said he was continuing to work with the Le Boutillier family, who have run Woodlands Farm for five generations.
He said: ‘It’s been a traumatic time for them and I think will take some time for them to get over this.’
Mr Le Maistre said he had been involved in the dairy industry for 40 years and had never experienced an incident of this scale before.
He said that he hoped the investigation would provide some answers.
‘Everyone wants to get to the bottom of it, and lots of people are working tirelessly on the investigation,’ he said.
Thomas Innes / Jersey Evening Post
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