THE owner of a North Yorkshire smallholding is urging the Government to rethink its foot-and-mouth policy.

Susan Robson, who owns a handful of sheep on land off Richmond's Quaker Lane, said farmers should be allowed to use a vaccine to combat the disease.

"If the thousands of sheep and cattle you see being destroyed on TV were dogs and cats, there would be a national outcry," she said.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture (Maff) said if Britain were to use the vaccine, it would lose its status as a nation free from foot-and-mouth, and would face an export ban.

"We simply would not be able to sell meat abroad and that would have a massive impact on the industry, which would probably collapse,'' he said.

Teesdale farmer Richard Betton, vice-chairman of the National Farmers' Union's less- favoured areas committee, said the unfortunate truth was that slaughter is necessary.

He said: "The vast majority of animals would recover, but they would never recover fully. They would be damaged or stunted for life.

"Most stock would not reach its potential. I don't think there is any alternative."

Weardale haulier Peter Monkhouse, who saw the pyres of his sheep flock burn over the weekend, said he believed slaughter was the best option.

About 40 of his animals and 175 from a neighbouring farm were killed because of the outbreak on his land, in Wolsingham.

"I think what they (Maff) are worried about is the ongoing effect of not being able to produce meat and sell meat," said Mr Monkhouse.

However, Mrs Robson said: "Farmers should be allowed to decide if they want to pay for vaccine to prevent the disease."