County to begin Bluetongue vaccinations

2:20pm Friday 1st August 2008

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So far this year, Bluetongue disease has not become a problem.

This is due to the combination of the strict movement controls, the progressive use of the vaccine across the country, rolled out from the original infective areas, which, coupled with the cool weather inhibiting insect activity, has halted the spread of the disease.

But farmers must not be complacent, as the present spell of hot weather, coupled with east winds, the situation could suddenly change dramatically.

The good news for Herefordshire, with increasing supplies of the vaccine now becoming available, is that the county has now become part of the Protection Zone earlier than originally expected and farmers can now obtain supplies of the vaccine through their vets.

The joint campaign Against Bluetongue, with the slogan “don’t hesitate, vaccinate”, is backed by the NFU, CLA, livestock auctioneers and many other organisations directly associated with the livestock industry.

It is imploring farmers to make sure the disease is not allowed to spread by vaccinating all their cattle, sheep and other ruminants as quickly as possible.

The inclusion of more counties in the Protection Zone (PZ) will make moving animals less problematic within the new extended protection zone.

However, Elin Jones, the Welsh Assembly Government minister responsible for animal disease in Wales, is considering delaying making vaccine available piecemeal county by county in Wales, until there is enough vaccine available to do the whole of Wales at the same time, probably in September.

This possible change is being considered as an alternative to avoid disrupting the Welsh sheep sales by movement restrictions.

So until such time as the counties adjoining Herefordshire or the whole of Wales become a PZ, cross-border trading will continue to be subject to stringent animal movement regulations.

The Royal Welsh Show, which was opened by the Princess Royal, bucked the trend of many other shows by achieving a near-record attendance over the four days of 236,284.

The Princess described the Royal Welsh as “one of the most popular, if not the most popular agricultural show in Europe, which brings together town and country”.

She added: “Rural economies are fundamentally important to keeping Wales as attractive as it is.”

A unique aspect of the Royal Welsh is the way it always attracts high-profile visitors, including a bevy of Welsh Assembly Government ministers, who besides speaking and making important announcements at various venues, mingle and chat to visitors, getting a real feel of the farming scene from farmers.

Elin Jones, the Assembly’s Minister for Rural Affairs, spoke at several venues during the show. Having been brought up on a farm near Lampeter, Elin knows about farming and that certainly became very clear in her speeches.

She said it was important to retain a viable farming sector in Wales and paid tribute to farmers in their role of maintaining attractive landscapes and habitats, the importance of their role in the rural economy and their role in food security.

Dai Davies, the NFU Cymru president, praised Elin Jones’ courageous decision, based on scientific evidence, to adopt a holistic approach to the eradication of Bovine TB in both cattle and badgers.

He criticised her English counterpart Hilary Benn’s reluctance to deal with the problem.

In stark contrast, Elin Jones said despite Hilary Benn’s stance on culling badgers, she would not abandon the Welsh Assembly’s bovine TB eradication strategy, which included a planned limited cull of badgers.