MORE than 21,000 animals have been earmarked for slaughter in Herefordshire and Worcester-shire since the last cases of foot and mouth disease were announced last Friday.

The Herefordshire cases confirmed that day included 110 sheep at Dorstone and 611 beasts at Newton St Margarets, including sheep, cattle, pigs and a goat.

At Himbleton, near Droitwich, 40 cattle were slaughtered on suspicion of being infected and 430 sheep were slaughtered on suspicion at Wormbridge, Hereford.

But confirmed or suspected cases represent a small proportion of animals to be culled.

More than 20,000 animals in the two counties were listed as dangerous contacts in the six days from Friday to Wednesday.

All will have to be slaughtered and either buried, in the case of sheep, or burned, in the case of cattle. This is an extra precaution required to prevent the possible spread of BSE rather than foot and mouth disease.

Local 'dangerous contact' sites announced this week include: Birchfields, Bromyard, 777 sheep, 50 cattle; Burgess Farm, Avenbury, Bromyard, 1,300 sheep, 211 cattle; Bent Orchards Farm, Woolhope, 18 cattle; Genes Lodge, Whitbourne, Bromyard, five sheep, ten lambs; Hill End, Much Marcle, ten sheep; Bushley Park Farm, near Tewkesbury, 700 sheep; Hillview and Woodredding, Much Marcle, 163 sheep; Wessington Farm, Woolhope, 48 cattle; Croose Farm, Woolhope, 60 sheep; Noggin Farm and Chandos Farm, Much Marcle, 300 sheep, one bull; Hardwick Manor, Bromyard, 37 sheep; Buckenhill Manor, Bromyard, 800 sheep; Highwell Field, Little Froome Farm, Bromyard, 55 sheep; Rowden, Bromyard, 20 sheep; Woodyard Field, Tewkesbury Road, Bredon, three sheep.

The incubation period is 14 to 21 days, so there is some way to go before the disease could be said to be under control, but a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was cautiously optimistic.

"Certainly the number of reported cases of infected premises has slowed down and this is a good sign. We are continuing to do all we can to eradicate this disease," she said.

Alan Edwards, policy adviser for the National Farmers' Union West Midlands, said: "The slaughtering is unfortunately very easy. The problem is disposing of the carcases, but the operation is very efficient now, since the army became involved."

In theory, contiguous culling should work, if livestock are not moved about and the disease is not being spread on the wind, he said.

Worcestershire trading standards officers are investigating 12 suspected cases of animals being moved illegally.

"Compensation will be paid for the animals that are slaughtered but the vast majority who haven't had foot and mouth disease get nothing," said Mr Edwards.

"Farmers within 10km of an infected farm are probably in a worse position. They haven't been able to move any stock for the last six or seven weeks, but they still have to feed them and do everything possible to keep them healthy."