By Caroline McClatchey BBC News

The ban on the movement of cattle, pigs and sheep around Great Britain has also been taking its toll on workers in a variety of meat-related industries.

John Jones stands among the empty pens at the Welshpool Livestock Auction

Many abattoirs, meat packaging plants and livestock markets have fallen silent. Country roads, devoid of trucks taking animals to the slaughterhouse or market, are also quieter than usual.

John Jones, of the Welshpool Livestock Auction, was not needed on Monday.

The weekly auction, on the Welsh border, is usually packed with sheep, meat buyers and farmers, but it was called off due to the foot-and-mouth disease scare in Surrey.

"Last week, we had 9,500 sheep," he said. "And today there was nil and it cost us between �15 - �20,000 in commission.

"But it's not just today's costs that are the problem. The three-month export ban will reduce the price of sheep and cattle substantially."

He said the auction would usually take place three or four times a week from September, when the sheep breeding season starts in full.

They will be praying the movement ban is removed as soon as possible Richard Billinge Meat Hygiene Service

"That's only a month away and it's vital we are back in business then or the loss will be extremely substantial for both ourselves and the farming community," he said.

"Back in 2001, we had to sell via a video system and we are not sure if we are going to have to do that again."

Richard Billinge, from the Meat Hygiene Service which oversees the work of Great Britain's abattoirs, said more than half of the 305 red meat slaughterhouses were closed on Monday.

A stock take showed that as of midday on Monday:

"The only slaughtering allowed was of those animals already in the abattoirs," said Mr Billinge.

"The complete ban on the movement of animals means there will not be any for slaughter on Tuesday, so there will be a great deal less activity then.

"There's no doubt the abattoirs are rather concerned as they know there's livestock to be had but they cannot get it. They will be praying the movement ban is removed as soon as possible."

The Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) says the export ban will cost the British red meat industry an estimated �10 million per week.

'Captive sellers'

That figure includes lost revenue from both live animal and red meat sales, as well as the knock-on losses to related businesses such as abattoirs, packers, processors and transport firms.

Guy Attenborough, from the MLC, said the EU market accounted for 90% of British red meat and live animal exports.

He said: "Getting exports restarted following the all-clear will be a number one priority for the MLC."

Anthony Gibson from the National Farmers' Union said an export ban effectively made UK red meat producers "captive sellers" to the domestic market.

He appealed to retailers and abattoirs not to take advantage of the situation by lowering prices paid to UK producers.

"We hope movements of animals will resume in the next two to three days," he said. "If we get it right we want to be able to minimise the damage.