The RBST is fully supporting the JAB, Joint Action Against Bluetongue campaign and urges all RBST cattle and sheep livestock members in the Bluetongue Protection Zone to contact their vet about vaccinations for their animals.
You must take the opportunity to protect your livestock against bluetongue (BTV8) now that a vaccine is being made available. Bluetongue is transmitted by midges - it cannot naturally be transmitted directly between animals. It affects domestic and wild ruminants - cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and, to a lesser extent, camelids. Sheep are most severely affected but cattle, although infected more frequently than sheep, do not always show symptoms.
Bluetongue is devastating in its second season. It causes deaths, stillbirths and reduced productivity in cattle and sheep. Offspring of infected animals can be born with the virus and often die. Don’t hesitate - vaccinate! Protect your livestock and your livelihood. You owe it to your animals. You owe it to your neighbours. Contact your vet today about BTV8 vaccine for sheep and cattle.
Details of how to spot bluetongue and the disease control strategy appear online at: www.defra.gov.uk/bluetongue [1]
More information on bluetongue can be found on the Institute for Animal Health website: www.iah.ac.uk [2]
Keep abreast of bluetongue developments with the NFU - see: www.nfuonline.com [3] Defra helpline tel: 08459 335577
For advice on the responsible use of medicines in agriculture see: www.ruma.org.uk [4]
All photographs courtesy of Institute for Animal Health (IAH) Produced by the NFU for the Joint Campaign Against Bluetongue
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