Bluetongue vaccine call by Scottish farmers

Feb 15 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

BEEF farmers in Scotland fear their government is gambling with their future by not ordering blanket bluetongue vaccinations this summer.

The National Beef Association Scotland says it is unrealistic to expect to counter the advance of the bluetongue virus without access to an effective restraint.

Farmers in England are looking to vaccinate stock from May in expectation of bluetongue reaching previously free areas in July and August.

But, just over the border, £10m worth of funding for the vaccine is being held back until 2009.

NBA Scotland chairman Iain Mathers says the assembly is gambling on only 100-200 Scottish animals being infected this year.

He added: “England expects a bluetongue conflagration in July and August and is rolling out a national vaccination programme at the end of May.

“We face the same dangers and the Scottish government should acknowledge that a deadly and damaging disease like bluetongue can only be controlled by effective vaccination. They have said they will be able to secure sufficient vaccine for Scotland if they are faced with an emergency but at this stage prefer not to commit themselves to the cost.”

The assembly, he said, have also decided to defer covering Scotland with the protection zone status which is required for vaccination to take place because they want to protect the live animal trade with Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Mr Mathers said: “However, they have not acknowledged the difficulties Scotland’s store and breeding stock producers will have selling unvaccinated stock into much more important markets in England if Scotland does not vaccinate or volunteer for PZ status.

“Nor have they recognised the appetite among Scottish farmers for access to bluetongue vaccine. More of Scotland’s livestock farmers than the Scottish government appears to want the comfort of vaccination cover.

“They are worried that when autumn comes there may not be a market in England or Wales for their stock unless they have been protected from bluetongue.” He added: “We have no doubt that adequate supplies of vaccine should be available to beef and sheep farmers this summer because it not only shields their animals, and their business, from a debilitating disease but also prevents farmers who have not vaccinated their stock facing additional cost through being cut off from regular markets in those areas of Britain where vaccination has taken place.”