Vaccination is vital to avoid bluetongue spread
Farmers hear of the serious threat bluetongue poses at a meeting in Newmarket
Friday 11 January 2008
Bluetongue could decimate livestock farming in East Anglia unless a vaccine is available in time.
That was the stark message delivered to more than 200 of the region's cattle and sheep farmers at a conference in Newmarket last night (Thursday 10 January).
They heard from Dutch vet Daan Dercksen, who explained the serious impact bluetongue had on farming in Holland in its second year.
Bluetongue cases soared from 465 in 2006 to more than 6,000 in 2007, mortality rates increased, symptoms became more pronounced, dairy yields fell and fertility problems rose.
"I am not here to frighten you but I do want to put you on alert," he said.
"With the impact bluetongue had on sheep and goat farming I have seen a lot of good men cry, which is not normal in our country!"
Bluetongue is a virus spread by midges which was first confirmed in Suffolk in September last year. It has no human health or food safety implications. To date there have been 66 cases in England.
The conference, at the Bedford Lodge Hotel, was organised by NFU East Anglia and the National Sheep Association, with the support of East of England Development Agency.
The aim was to bring farmers up to date with the latest situation and to outline the steps being taken to develop a vaccine.
NFU head of food and farming Kevin Pearce said that 22.5 million doses of vaccine were on order - 2.5 million for Wales with the rest earmarked for England. The expectation was that the protection zone, covering large parts of East Anglia, would be the first priority.
"We don't want to see what's happened in the rest of Europe happen over here. It would be a catastrophe for our livestock sector. The objective all along has been to try and stop the UK suffering to such an extent," he said.
Discussions are continuing on the UK's vaccination strategy, including whether or not it should be compulsory or voluntary. The hope is that cattle and sheep can be vaccinated before the disease spreads out of the protection zone. To be effective 80 per cent of livestock would need to be treated.
