11/5/2009

Welsh farmers are being urged to vaccinate against bluetongue a the weather warms up.

And Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales’s Chief Veterinary Officer, has t announced that all bluetongue vaccine stocks in Wales will be discounted by 50%, which it is hoped will result in the price of vaccine dropping from 66-79p per ml plus vat to 33-39p per ml plus vat.

NFU Cymru President, Dai Davies said, “Recent figures show that there has been an increase in the first three months of this year in the uptake of the BTV8 vaccine in Wales and we appreciate the great lengths that many farmers have already gone to to ensure their livestock is protected.

"I should remind those that haven’t done it yet that vaccination is the only way to protect you business from this disease.

“France has already seen its first case of bluetongue this year and back at home we are seeing the mean daily temperatures warming up considerably, with the met office also predicting a hot summer ahead. Therefore midge activity is rising and the risk of disease circulating is greatly increased.�

Mr Davies warns, “There is no Government compensation for any losses sustained due to bluetongue and our fate is largely in our own hands as far as this disease is concerned. My firm advice remains don’t wait – vaccinate.�