Oh joy. Some farmer has imported cattle from a restriction zone area in Germany, and with it, brought in blue tongue – Defra latest
This is exasperating. If I understand this correctly, the farmer was only able to import the capital as we are now in a protection zone in Devon, and we are in a protection zone not because there are cases here, but to fiddle EU regulations and allow the use of the vaccination. It does not mean, go ahead import infected cattle! as DEFRA themselves say
These cases emphasise the need for farmers to be aware of the risks of importing animals from within Restricted Zones and to consider very carefully the potential consequences for their existing livestock and the livestock of their neighbours.
What I don’t understand, is why the testing for blue tongue occurred after they arrived here.
I can only hope the vaccinations work, we did our sheep a while back. And I feel for those that opted not to vaccinate.
Oh bugger! There’s me reading in the paper how there have only been 146 or so cases in the UK …and how it’s all down to a good job on vaccinations, and someone imports BTV8. Not what you need. Finger-crossed that old Intervet did a good job on the vaccine.
Oh Heck – Fingers crossed that it doesn’t come any nearer to you AND if it does that the vaccine works.