Sheep Management: bluetongue, temporary grazing and scheme actions
Irish farmers are navigating the emergence of the bluetongue virus, with specific vaccination protocols now recommended for sheep. Additionally, the article clarifies regulations regarding temporary grazing agreements and the necessity of notifying veterinary offices.
Why it matters
Proper management of livestock diseases and grazing regulations is critical for the economic stability and health of the agricultural sector.
Bluetongue virus: The news of the first confirmed case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in a ram which died in Wexford is generating more discussions on vaccination.
There are three vaccines licensed for use in Ireland and Britain: Bluevac-3, Bultavo 3 and Syvazul BTV-3.
Bluevac-3 requires two vaccine shots of 2ml three weeks apart while Bultavo 3 and Syvazul BTV-3 are a single-administration programme of 1ml and 2ml, respectively. Immunity to Syvazul builds after 28 days following administering the vaccine in sheep while full immunity builds after three weeks following vaccination in the other two vaccines.
Vaccination does not prevent infection and transmission of the virus, but greatly helps to curtail the severity of clinical symptoms.
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