A backlash against bluetongue vaccination has seen
growing numbers of producers shelving plans to protect livestock
against the virus.
Many farmers, particularly in the north of England, fear that
the breeding ability of stock - already stressed by the difficult
late summer and autumn weather - may be adversely affected by the
vaccine.
Uptake of the vaccine has been so low that only one in five
livestock farms is protected. One group of farmers, who spoke to
Farmers Weekly, admitted that they were "undecided" about using
vaccine until the breeding and sale season was over.
While the farmers were not prepared to be identified, they said
reports about stock deaths following vaccination had done little to
instill confidence in the vaccine.
"I've decided to leave my vaccine in the fridge until the
spring," said one Cumbria suckled calf producer. "I want my cows
safely in calf and a crop of calves on the ground before I start to
jab."
Although farmers selling breeding sheep at the big autumn sales
have had the option to jab or leave it to purchasers, many were
worried that buyers were also becoming "nervy". Some buyers
preferred gimmer lambs that had not been vaccinated, a sheep
producer told Farmers Weekly.
The doubts over vaccinating were reflected at Penrith livestock
market which reported that, of 6000 mules through, only two batches
of ewes were vaccinated.
Across the Pennines, farmers in Yorkshire also expressed
worries.
"It's been the worst summer and autumn we can remember and stock
have suffered," said a North Yorkshire hill farmer.
"If we jab sheep that are clearly under pressure at a critical
time of year we may be at risk of dealing ourselves another body
blow."
In Wales, where the first case of bluetongue in imported cattle
occurred on a Denbighshire farm this week, chief veterinary officer
Christianne Glossop reported that the uptake of vaccine had been
disappointingly low.
She said that confirmation of the virus in two cattle imported
to a farm near Ruthin highlighted the importance of vaccination -
and the need for farmers to consider carefully before importing
animals from bluetongue infected areas.
"Over the past few weeks there have been too many instances of
imported animals testing positive for bluetongue in England, and
now in Wales."
Alun Edwards, a local farmer and Farmers Union of Wales office
holder, claimed producers who resisted vaccination were "bloody
idiots", and he questioned the sanity of importing livestock from
infected areas.
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Backlash against bluetongue vaccination.