The earlier vaccination against bluetongue begins the better says NBA Scotland

NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION

(Press statement – No embargo)

August 27th 2008

The earlier vaccination against bluetongue begins the better, says NBA Scotland.

The National Beef Association is pleased that vaccination against bluetongue in Scotland may begin earlier than was once thought.

It has long argued that a timely injection is the only insurance against the disease and is worried that Scottish farmers are being denied the opportunity to protect their stock this autumn.

However a meeting yesterday (Tuesday August 26th) between the Scottish Government and its cattle and sheep stakeholders has agreed, if disease conditions elsewhere in the UK do not interfere their plans, that vaccination could begin in hill flocks when ewes are gathered for tupping from mid-October.

“It is disappointing that only one million doses of vaccine are currently in stock to fight an outbreak that could erupt in September but a further three million doses could be on hand during October followed by progressive increases in stocks from November onwards,” said NBA Scotland vice-chairman, Hamish McBean.

“This creates an opportunity for the Scottish Government to bring the vector free period, which last year began in December, substantially forward and initiate its organised vaccination programme by targeting hill sheep when they are gathered at a more convenient time of the year.”

“Setting a target for the earliest possible start is a good idea. Our very firm position is that the quicker all Scottish stock is vaccinated the better it is for farmers who are desperate to protect their stock from bluetongue – especially as there is no compensation if they go down.”

And NBA Scotland also wants to see the entire Scottish mainland designated a Protection Zone (PZ) as soon as the first Scottish animal is vaccinated.

“The last thing we want to see is the PZ line inching northwards in dribs and drabs and creating trading, and movement, problems for everyone caught on the wrong side of a constantly moving disease control boundary,” said Mr McBean.

“Shetland and the Western Isles may choose to be exceptions but the NBA has no doubt that once farmers on the mainland and on Orkney are sent order forms, and plans for supervised vaccination in individual farms are confirmed, there can be no additional gain from splitting Scotland into different disease management areas – especially when a large part of the vaccination programme will be carried out in winter when midges are no longer active.”

For more information contact:

Hamish McBean, NBA Scotland vice-chairman.  Tel. 01309 651 206