FARMERS URGED TO PRIORITISE BLUETONGUE VACCINATION

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today called on Welsh farmers to vaccinate their livestock at the earliest opportunity following conformation that the whole of Wales will be declared a Bluetongue Protection Zone from Monday (September 1).

The move comes following confirmation that cases of Bluetongue 8 (BTV8) have been confirmed in imported cattle in Tiverton, Devon.

FUW President Gareth Vaughan said: "For the first time this year we have seen cases of BTV8 in the UK, with three infected premises confirmed in the past week. The disease is now on our doorstep and from Monday Welsh farmers will be able to take action to minimise the risk to their livestock.

"I therefore urge farmers who have not yet ordered vaccine from their vets to do so immediately. It is expected that vaccine supplies will become available within days, with further batches arriving over the coming weeks."

The announcement coincides with Wales' busiest time in terms of crucial livestock sales, which are desperately needed after the disruption caused by Foot and Mouth disease last year.

Reacting to the news that cases of Bluetongue have been confirmed in imported cattle in Devon, and imported rams in East Sussex and Hertfordshire Mr Vaughan added: "In February the FUW called on Welsh farmers to voluntarily ban live imports from high risk areas of continental Europe, and this remains our position.

"In recent weeks the number of cases in northern Europe has spiralled to over 5000, and the disease is endemic in large areas on the continent.

"Last year the midges that carry the disease were still active until mid December, and any animals imported now put us at risk of seeing the disease spreading over a period of four months or so.

"Such importation not only risks introducing BTV8 to Wales - it could also introduce strains of the disease not yet present in Northern Europe, such as strains 1,2 and 4. Although vaccine for BTV8 will soon be available to us, the chances of getting hold of vaccine against other strains seems minimal."

Further information on Bluetongue is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website: www.wales.gov.uk/bluetongue .

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