Last updated 16:02, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

CUMBRIA has become part of the bluetongue protection zone – but Scotland has still to decide when to introduce a vaccination policy over the Border.

Nick Utting: Farmers should not import animals without testing

Government vets have warned farmers that vaccination is the only proven form of protection against the disease, which can kill up to 40 per cent of infected animals and leave survivors unable to thrive.

Cumbria National Farmers’ Union secretary Nick Utting believes there are mixed feelings among Cumbrian farmers about vaccination, but they realise the importance of protecting livestock.

He said: “We are facing the autumn sheep sales and they are very important to Cumbrian producers.

“The vaccination will create inevitable disruption to those sales and the movement of sheep afterwards. Equally, we have problems in that just a few miles away from us, Scotland is not operating a vaccination policy at the present time. That makes trade between us and Scotland extremely difficult – both in stock coming down and up.

“There is a lot of trade goes on and is very much taken for granted, but it is important to the farmers involved.”

Defra’s announcement came after a further outbreak of the disease was detected last week in eight imported cattle on premises near Tiverton, Devon.

Last month Defra announced that Cumbria and Northumberland would both enter the England protection zone at the same time but ‘not before’ September 1. This helped farmers and sales organisers plan movement of their animals to slaughter or to sales in England and Scotland, to mitigate the impact on trade.

The zone was extended on Monday and completes the roll-out of the vaccination programme by bringing the whole of England into the protection zone, enabling farmers to protect their animals from the threat of bluetongue.

The cases in Devon were detected as a result of post-import testing carried out by Defra on all bluetongue-susceptible animals arriving from continental Europe, in addition to checks at the country of origin.

Defra said these cases emphasise the need for farmers to be aware of the risks of importing animals from within restricted zones and to consider carefully the potential consequences for their existing livestock and the livestock of their neighbours.

It added that vaccination is the only effective tool to protect susceptible animals from bluetongue. Farmers throughout the protection zone should vaccinate as soon as vaccine is available to them.

Vaccination means a potential second year of disruption to the crucial autumn sales, which were hit last year by the foot and mouth outbreak.

A mass vaccination campaign against bluetongue began in late April and approximately 21.5 million doses have so far been made available to farmers.

Protection zones for BTV8 across the EU are regarded as being “confluent”. This means that it is legally possible to move susceptible animals from the BTV8 protection zone in Germany to the protection zone in England and Wales and vice versa. It is therefore not unexpected to find infected animals in the protection zone.

There is no evidence to suggest that the virus is circulating between local midge and animal populations in the local areas.

Defra said that in respect of the decision to extend the protection zone on September 1 into Northumberland and Cumbria, livestock keepers in the areas will be able to obtain the vaccine from the time they become part of the zone; however, they are encouraged to order vaccine in advance through their vet. The vaccine will be available in 20ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles, although some bottle sizes may be more readily available than others.

Restrictions will apply to those keepers coming into the extended zone. Animals can only be moved out of the protection zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or moving for slaughter, subject to meeting certain conditions.

Farmers are asked to refer to the Defra website for further guidance.

Further information from Defra helpline (0845 9335577).