Farm leaders are starting their next big push for farmers to vaccinate against bluetongue. I just wondered what people's thoughts were this time around. I guess there is a real danger people will be complacent because it hasn't hit Britain in the way we feared yet. But if people are complacent then are we going to run into problems.

Hi,

 In my opinion there is no need to vaccinate stock against bluetongue. The disease was only found in imported animals ( I stand to be corrected ) and I think we were tricked ( and blackmailed ) into panic buying hundreds of pounds worth of un-saleable vaccine last year without cause. Thankfully there were no outbrakes. I don't recall much about any outbrakes on the continent either ???

All that needs to be done is ban all livestock imports from at-risk areas. We vaccinate for countless ( more immediate ) disease threats already, at great expence. We have to draw the line somewhere.

l am beginning to wonder if we need too.

lf it was one jab l probably would carry on, but having to give two injections is a real headache

Welshnwilling how do you no that the fact that we vaccinated is why we had no outbrakes.

yes imports should be baned from at risk areas but this is a euro thing so it will not happen

I have thought about not vaccinateing the calves as they have to have two jabs but i will still do the cows

I seem to remember something about calves geting some imminuty from the cows anyway cant remember were i got this from.

henarar:

Welshnwilling how do you no that the fact that we vaccinated is why we had no outbrakes

This may be the case,but personally I doubt it.

henarar:

I seem to remember something about calves geting some imminuty from the cows anyway cant remember were i got this from

I believe most vaccines pass down some resistance to calves/lambs especially if the cow/ewe in injected whilst in calf/lamb. Animals must be allowed to build up natural immunity wherever possible. We can't keep meddling.

welshnwilling:

The disease was only found in imported animals ( I stand to be corrected ) and I think we were tricked ( and blackmailed ) into panic buying hundreds of pounds worth of un-saleable vaccine last year without cause. Thankfully there were no outbrakes. I don't recall much about any outbrakes on the continent either ???

Welshnwilling - I'm afraid you're wrong in saying the disease was only found in imported animals. The outbreaks in the autumn of 2007 were the result of midge being blown across from mainland Europe to the UK and then infected UK stock. True enough the 2008 cases were in imported stock, but this is largely because those of us farming in the south and east of the country got and vaccinated stock early in the year as soon as vaccine was available and before too much midge activity, limiting the chances of any UK stock being infected. As for outbreaks on the Continent, again in 2008 there were massive numbers of cases as France was much slower to vaccinate than the UK, in Holland where the disease was rife in 2007, but vaccination happened quickly in 2008 there were much fewer cases in that year. There were indeed fewer cases in 2009 in Europe, but this is solely down to vaccination.

I can understand your reticence to vaccinate being a fair bit further from the risk area than I am, but would urge you think carefully before stopping, particularly in cattle which will need two vaccinations to start a programme again should the disease re-emerge, rather than just one booster shot now if they've been done last year.

However, once again I suspect those of us in the risk area will end up vaccinating and protecting the rest of the country and carrying the cost in the process!

Top tup- Thankyou for correcting my mistake.

top tup:

However, once again I suspect those of us in the risk area will end up vaccinating and protecting the rest of the country and carrying the cost in the process!

If this is the case then surely the vaccine should be supplied to farmers in the risk area free of charge by the govt. I'm sure they will have plenty on their hands left over from last year.

As for vaccinating our cattle, I still see little point in doing them but might consider having a stock of vaccine in the fridge, if that is a supply of very long dated vaccine was available at a sensible price.

i think it is a good idea to have that protective barrier down in the south east, and the gov should cover the cost for it, but dont see a point in us doing it futher afield, over in this neck of the woods anyway,(mid wales), becaus we'd only be vaccinating over one strane, and theres about 3 or 4 other types just acros the channel, so until it, or they come closer, it would be a waste of monney. only a hand full i know of that vaccinated round here last year.

Top Tup, I sympathise with you being near France  and therefore you feel you have to vaccinate. This is a decision you take to protect your business. Some of us on the other side of the country risk access the situation and decide not to vaccinate. This is done to protect our businesses and not to throw money down the drain.   I often hear farmers that have vaccinated  trying to make out they are noble and are carrying non vaccinating farmers. Absolute rubbish, anyone vaccinating are protecting their own stock not anyone elses.

Windy Miller, the government debt is huge, why should the tax payer be asked to fund this vaccine?  We all use other vaccines and pay for them ourselves. I dont think the British public would relish paying for something like this .

We can almost smell the Dutch tulips across the water with an easterly wind, so no question at all, two jabs it is.

farmerbill:

anyone vaccinating are protecting their own stock not anyone elses.

This is true in one sense but not in every sense. A vaccinated flock does not act as a reservoir or carrier and is, therefore, a point at which spread of disease is checked.

I once read that in order to prevent an epidemic it was only necessary to vaccinate a proportion of cattle (or people) and I think the science and statistics of this still holds true. Maybe one our GP or Vetinary contributors can confirm or deny this?

Peter Wells:

This is true in one sense but not in every sense. A vaccinated flock does not act as a reservoir or carrier and is, therefore, a point at which spread of disease is checked.

PW. I agree with what you say, but can't see that vaccinating my stock in west Wales would help anyone as Bluetongue is not an immediate threat here. Obviously in the south east of England it may be considered a much greater risk, and therefore it is up to each farmer to weigh up the situation for themselves.

welshnwilling:

PW I agree with what you say, but can't see that vaccinating my stock in west Wales would help anyone as Bluetongue is not an immediate threat here.

If I were in your position I would be of the same mind, providing my stock is not being transported around country, but I am guess that you have thought of that. Incidentally I have a good friend who is a Vet in Carmarthen and so do get down your way from time to time. Not frequently enough however as I love the place.

Hi Peter, Thanks for your comments on my post.  I agree if all the farmers in the east vaccinate their stock it may well provide a buffer zone and in that way it may benefit farners further west. However I an sure anyone vaccinating is doing so for their own benefit and that is up to them.  There are so many diseases to vaccinate for nowadays and it is up to farmers to risk assess the situation and vaccinate accordingly.  I believe this blue tongue is overhyped, there were no outbreaksin the UK last year and therefore many farmers would rather spend their money on other more pressing matters. I may get some benefit from someone further east vaccinating but I am not really bothered whether they do or not. If blue tongue heads closer to me and I feel it is a higher risk, I will get on and vaccinate my stock, NO PROBLEM.  I wish everyone would let individual farmers make the decision for themselves without moral judgements and disaproval.

The advice I've had is to wait and see this year.

Anybody know what vaccines will be available this year?  Still just BTV8 or a combined BTv1 & BTv8?

Jacobus:

Anybody know what vaccines will be available this year?  Still just BTV8 or a combined BTv1 & BTv8?

Will just be BTV8 this year Jacobus, there's no BTV1 vaccine licensed for UK use and we're not allowed to use it as there have been no BTV1 cases here yet.