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The impact of FMD on the basic operations of a livestock unit is considered by some
authorities to be one of the most damaging aspects at the local level. In addition to
the loss of productivity of his livestock, in the broadest sense, the farmer will face
other problems including:
1. Movement restrictions, which may prevent a farmer from moving animals even within
his own premises, selling animals and animal products or buying livestock for breeding
and stocking purposes.
2. Depressed market prices of live animals and animal products, due often to reduced
domestic consumption and, particularly, loss of exports from a country previously free
of FMD.
3. A requirement by some national authorities to slaughter all livestock on or near
the infected premises. Even with compensatory payments, a farmer may need many years to
rebuild his livestock unit, having lost the benefits of a programme of careful genetic
selection.
4. The loss of managerial flexibility on an affected livestock unit. For
example, livestock improvement programmes may be thrown into chaos because
of the difficulties of organising and operating natural and artificial
inseminations.
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