Shropshire farmers urged to act as Bluetongue vaccine given go-ahead for livestock
The Bluetongue vaccine will be available to farmers across Shropshire and Mid Wales from next month to help them safeguard their livestock from the potentially fatal disease.
In sheep, symptoms include eye and nasal discharges, drooling, high body temperature, swelling in the mouth, head and neck, lameness and haemorrages.
In cattle symptoms are similar but also include conjunctivitis and swollen teats.
So the NFU is urging farmers to speak to their vets as a matter of urgency in order to obtain the vaccine after MSD Health signed an agreement to distribute its BLUEVAC BTV8 vaccine throughout Great Britain.
NFU livestock chairman Charles Sercombe said: "This is really welcome news for the industry and we strongly urge farmers to discuss vaccination with their vet in order to fully understand the risk to their business considering their system and geography.
"These conversations should be ongoing because as the situation in France and mainland Europe changes the risk will change in the UK. We are calling on manufacturers and vets to be clear on the vaccine pricing and availability. Farmers will base decisions on whether to vaccinate on a number of factors, with price and availability featuring highly."
Defra has analysed the risk to stock in the UK and the country is at risk of an outbreak during the spring or summer months, with an outbreak in late summer rated the most likely – the probability of incursion is 33 to 60 per cent in July and 80 per cent in September.
The Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB) has put together a leaflet and poster to highlight the signs of Bluetongue and how farmers can be proactive.
"Further activity is currently being planned to ensure farmers, vets, animal health advisers and wider industry are fully informed with the latest situation and veterinary advice. We would encourage all farmers to visit the NFU website which contains all the latest information for BTV3," said Mr Sercombe. He said other vaccines will become available to veterinary practices in mid-July.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Professor Christianne Glossop, says the midge-borne virus thrives in warm weather and infections in France are expected to increase and move northwards to the coast and be blown across the Channel.
