Farmers received almost £4 billion in direct compensation, but the final bill to the taxpayer was much closer to £8bn. The largest cheque paid to a Scottish farmer exceeded £3 million.

It has been clear since the epidemic that the government will never again allow itself to be liable for an open-ended commitment to pick up all the costs. The industry will have to share the burden in the event of any similar outbreak in future.

Yesterday in London, Stewart Houston, a pig farmer who has been the co-chairman of a joint industry working group with the government, gave an outline of current thinking.

He said: "Reducing the risk of an exotic animal disease outbreak is of paramount concern to us all. We believe that the industry and government working together is the way that this goal will be best achieved.

"It means the industry taking a full role in managing disease risks and farmers being prepared to pay a share of the costs."

Source: The Scotsman