Farmers fears Schmallenberg virus is being under-reported

A farmer who has suffered an outbreak of the Schmallenberg virus on his farm is concerned that the disease is under-reported.

Andrew Foulds, who farms near Mildenhall, Suffolk, has lost 75 lambs to the virus, a loss rate of about 4%, on his first early lambing flocks of 1,000 ewes. The estimated cost to his business so far is around £7,000.

His shepherds are due to lamb another 1,200 ewes, so he is expecting further losses.

Mr Foulds, regional chairman of the National Sheep Association (NSA), wants more farmers with animals affected by the Schmallenberg virus to speak out.

“Our big concern is that farmers with the Schmallenberg virus on their farms are not reporting it so that DEFRA can report a true picture of what’s happening on farms,” he said.

“As long as farmers keep on reporting cases and the ministry works as hard as they can with scientists across Europe, we’ll get some answers to this disease.”

Mr Foulds believes his flock was infected by midges in early October, six weeks after the rams started running with his 1,000 Mule x Suffolk ewes in mid-August.

“We had a few lambs which were deformed and we put it down to a rogue tup,” he said. “We had a few more so we called in the vet and had tests done for Schmallenberg, which came back positive.”

The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in adult cattle, including reduced milk yield, and stillbirth and birth deformities in sheep, cattle and goats. Mortality rates of up to 25% have been recorded in newborn lambs.

Scientists believe the virus is spread by biting midges and it first appeared on the continent before crossing the Channel.

Germany, where the virus originated, has had the largest number of confirmed cases (772), followed by France (277), Belgium (166) and The Netherlands (123).

Eighty-three farms in England have been confirmed with the virus, according to the latest government figures. There are no confirmed cases in Wales or Northern Ireland, however, but farmers in both countries are on high alert.

DEFRA has urged farmers to continue to report any suspicious cases. The Food Standards Agency said it was “unlikely” that the disease is of any risk to humans.