And though some alien species--such as horses, cattle and sheep--are important parts of our culture and commerce, many are pests.

CNN: Fish tale

All of Ellis's livestock -- 67 pigs, 71 cattle and 47 sheep -- were immediately shot and burned, and for a while it looked as if the outbreak might have been contained.

CNN: Farmers haunted by 1967 virus epidemic

From the proceeds, Mr Oswald, who runs a 350-acre livestock farm with Highland cattle and New Zealand Romney sheep, bought a tractor and a new sheep poly-tunnel.

BBC: James Oswald

Phil Gawne said, farmers are still "counting the cost of the disaster" but so far about 3, 200 carcasses have been recovered- 3, 000 sheep and 200 cattle.

BBC: Isle of Man farming snow toll reaches ?1m mark

For sheep and cattle farmers like David Smith - still untouched but right on the edge the Hexham hot spot - the time is right for vaccination.

BBC: Disease 'stranglehold' on farmers

As well as foot-and-mouth, the institute also focuses on diseases in cattle, sheep, horses and pigs, including lumpy skin disease, rinderpest, African swine fever, swine vesicular disease and equine encephalosis.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Pirbright: Labs at centre of outbreak

By that time there had been a total of 2, 364 outbreaks, and 433, 987 animals had been slaughtered and burnt -- 211, 825 cattle, 113, 766 pigs, 108, 345 sheep and 51 goats.

CNN: Farmers haunted by 1967 virus epidemic

At that time Nicla Kokecz po Oroznovem- Perko was the farmer, supporting himself and his family by driving his indigenous cattle and sheep up to the high pastures in the summer and making cheese, butter and yoghurt.

BBC: Snowbound Slovenia

Ms LeDoux has brought the bulls from her north-eastern Kansas ranch to the annual National Western Stock Show in Denver, a three-week livestock fair in January at which 15, 000 farm animals are shown, ranging from cattle and sheep to chickens and llamas.

ECONOMIST: All the fun of the fair at Denver��s annual stock show