News

Good moos for Noah's Ark

A nursery's own cow has so far evaded slaughter after she and five companions tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease last week.

Noah's Ark Nursery in Woking became home to Mabel the Jersey cow in 1992when she was just a week old. The nursery is home to 11 animals, six ofwhom were at risk of the disease after it was discovered at RogerPride's Surrey farm on 3 August.

The nursery was enclosed within the 3km protection zone surroundingPride's farm. More than 100 cows were culled to prevent further spread,amid fears there would be a repeat of the devastating outbreak thatoccurred in 2001.

Owner Peter Churchley said, 'Mabel is the matriarch of the group, andthere's the goats, Alfie, Scooby and Scragg, pot-bellied pig Pinkie andBlackie the sheep, who are all at risk because they arecloven-hooved.

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