2002 Photo Contest, Nature, 1st prize
Photographer

Jeff Mitchell

Reuters

04 March, 2001

An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease devastated farms across the country. Thousands of animals were slaughtered, bulldozed and buried to halt the spread of the disease. Cases were also detected in other European countries, prompting widespread debate about modern farming methods. Cows, sheep and pigs were destroyed in burning pits on farms from Scotland to England. During the crisis, tensions rose between farmers and agricultural advisers, when apparently healthy animals were also killed, to prevent further outbreaks.

About the photographer

Jeff Mitchell

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