Another animal virus does the rounds - this time smallenberg virus – which affects cattle sheep and goats.
It would seem from the information given that it reduces milk yield in cattle, but more worrying causes birth defects in sheep and cattle. For sheep this could result in difficult/impossible births – the vets will be busy, and of course the loss of lambs. VLA have a fact sheet on signs – in sheep it would appear that adult sheep don’t show any – it is their unborn that will show it..
Fortunate for us as we are not lambing this year, once again – but worrying for loads in the area – a case has been reported in Cornwall, and Devon is seen as likely due to the closeness to Europe and the timing of midge populations at tupping time.
oh joy.
