The 169th confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease in Devon, England, was "disappointing and worrying," the UK’s National Farmers' Union (NFU) said today.
The outbreak was confirmed by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at Crosses Farm at Clayhanger, near the Somerset border.
A total of 80 cattle were slaughtered last night, and 370 sheep were being killed today, said a spokesman.
Livestock at seven contiguous premises were also being slaughtered today, said DEFRA.
The latest case followed at outbreak on June 9 at Chulmleigh, Devon, about 30 miles to the west.
NFU south west regional director Mr Anthony Gibson said the latest case was in an area where there had been no previous disease, and where none was expected.
"It raises fears about what could happen in the autumn when the weather gets cooler," said Mr Gibson.
There was no obvious connection with any other outbreak, although there was an unproven theory that the disease might have been caught by the cattle from sheep, in which it was dormant.
PA