According to this week's FWi poll about half the livestock farmers responding haven't yet ordered any bluetongue vaccine. So, who are they and why aren't they telling their vets how much vaccine they're likely to need. It may only be a rough guess for many farms at the moment, but getting your name on the list is the important part.

I'll accept that the Scots and Welsh have difficulty ordering when their governments have yet to actually place a firm order themselves. But surely not all those who haven't ordered their supplies are in those countries? This spring and summer is the one chance we have of preventing bluetongue becoming endemic in the UK livestock population, failure to do so will mean horrendous losses for many farms for many years to come, by vaccinating you're not just protecting your own farm, you're helping protect the rest of the country too.

Jonathan Long. FW Livestock Editor

Our sham goverment may not have placed an order yet, but my vet is certainly taking pre-orders for vaccine.  There is no reason not to express an interest and being at the top of the vet's list.  I don't know about elsewhere, but my observation is that many around here are keeping their fingers crossed hoping we will remain in the free zone for this year and they can skip vaccinating.  Can't say I'd be happy to take that risk myself.

Our vet will charge 57p per dose for Fifty and 95p per dose for Twenty. Any advance?

He says he has been told that in the West of England we shall get the vaccine about mid June/July

I take it you've placed an order then Peter? The prices your vet is quoting are in line with the DEFRA recommended prices, although the 50ml pack price is at the lower end and the 20ml pack price at the top end!

 His estimate of mid-June to July is interesting and may yet be proved right, although naturally Intervet aren't committing themselves publicly to firm delivery dates for volumes yet and it will of course depend on disease spread before then as to which areas have access to the vaccine first. I spent this morning with two Intervet staff and while they're confident of production it is of course difficult to get firm dates from them, largely because as with any new product everyone is feeling their way with this first batch.

I placed my order over a month ago, and my vet had to leaf through several pages in the order book to get to the next free space. However, my boss is having none of the vaccination lark on his biodynamic farm, he's going to keep the stock free of the disease homoeopathically......

We registered a few weeks ago, I think we're near the top of the list from the vet's response. Not sure about the biodynamic approach, does this mean we need to perform skyclad rituals on a waning moon?    

Dont think my boss is ordering it either - He will probz just have me doing some of that Thai Chai milarky!?

we had an letter from the vets wanting to know how many livestock we have on the farm, so gave the info, and sent the letter back.

heard nothing since.

We had a local Bluetongue information evening organised by the local vet practice and I was really surprised at how few farmers actually turned up. I get the impression that locally people are going to be reactive rather than pro-active about this. I came away from the evening having booked the vaccine but very aware that if there is enough vaccine it may not be available until it is too late for my cattle. The images shown of the disease affected animals is something that I want to protect my own cattle from ~ but there is no guarantee that I will be able to do this. An awful feeling when caring for my cows is what I am here to do.

The initial course of vaccination will be a single injection for sheep.  All other ruminants require 2 doses, approximately 3 weeks apart.  Each dose consists of 1ml of vaccine underneath the skin.

Some species,other than cattle, may need a 3rd booster and then a further injection every 6 months.  All species will require at least a single, annual dose to boost the vaccine

 Vaccines need to be kept refrigerated and will only have a shelf life of 8 hours once opened.

It will be interesting to see how many of the big farmers vaccinate their sheep voluntarily compared to smallholders or hobby farmers. If a higher proportion of smallholders vaccinate, it will give lie to the NFU's current position which is to denigrate smallholders as being a reservoir of disease and ignorance.

My own experience living, as I do surrounded by much larger farms, is that my stock are healthier for per head than those of my neighbours. I say this not because my knowledge of experience in husbandry is superior, but simply that I keep a flock of about a hundred and am able to put in more time per head than are they.

I have spoken to my vet about number of doses required subject to the price being right, or else will get elsewhere. However I am unable to see the point in getting too excited about ordering as vaccine will be released to one area at a time and enough vaccine will be available to vaccinate all the stock in that particular area. A farmer in say Worcester may have ordered vaccine in February  but perhaps a farmer in Kent might order in May

Sorry continued due to error,  and receive vaccine straight away whilst Worcester farmer may have to wait until September.

Peter, I can not agree about your theory re smallholders and do not want to see arguements commence on one versus the other,suffice to say I am happy with my sheep husbandry and would not want anyone else looking after them whether small holder or big farmer.

I would have thought anyone with any amount of stock would be keen to vaccinate, no one big or small is just going to watch their stock die for the sake of a vaccination. Perhaps the lack of people at meetings reflect the fact that people understand what is going on and can do nothing(bar roust defra to order vaccine) until the vaccine becomes available in their area.

I still think they should blood test for BTV8 at abattoirs and get a true picture of where the disease really is. DEFRA won't order more vaccine until the orders outstrip supply, and i don't think that's happened yet.