Farmers told 'not too late' to vaccinate against bluetongue

Dairy farmers are being urged to vaccinate against BTV-3 if they haven’t already, with vets warning midges are still active and the disease will overwinter.

“Everybody in England should consider themselves at risk. With the warm weather we are still seeing, midges are still active, and I don’t think we’re at the peak of infection yet,” warns UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss.

Cat McLaughlin, NFU chief animal health and welfare adviser, says the disease is “on the move” and reminds farmers it is notifiable and must be reported.

BTV shares clinical signs with foot-and-mouth disease, which is currently present in parts of mainland Europe, making vigilance and reporting paramount to avoid misdiagnosis.

Vet Josh Swain from Synergy Farm Health in the South West, one of the worst-hit regions, says it is not too late to vaccinate.