When DEFRA first announced the likely cost of the bluetongue vaccine, farmers' initial reaction was 'ouch'! But now people have had time to think about it, views are changing. Because - let's face it - what's the alternative? As farmers on the FWiSpace discussion forums have said - paying 55p-98p a dose is cheaper than the cost of fallen stock disposal which can be £35/ewe in some parts of the country.
Farmers Weekly's Livestock Editor Jonathan Long says in the latest issue of the magazine that the matter of vaccination is an open and shut case. And rather than concentrating on the cost of vaccination, the industry should be looking at the value of it.