London — Army butchers began slaughtering sheep in northern England on Wednesday, and Britain received the green light to vaccinate thousands of cattle against foot-and-mouth disease but officials are still debating whether to use the last-resort measure.
As Britain's top-ranking ground commander stepped into the battle to contain the livestock disease, EU veterinary experts approved the government's request for authorization to vaccinate up to 180,000 dairy cattle.
Britain has sought to use vaccination only as a last resort because it would keep other nations' doors shut to its livestock exports, as inoculated animals are difficult to distinguish from those carrying the virus.
With British agriculture officials struggling to slaughter animals fast enough to contain the disease, the military which until now provided only logistical support began helping with the cull.
Livestock were trucked into the Great Orton airfield and workers nearby prepared a mass grave the size of two football fields.
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