Thousands fail to vaccinate over bluetongue
Last updated 10:46, Friday, 19 September 2008
Thousands of Cumbrian farmers are failing to vaccinate their stock against bluetongue according to evidence from county vets.
At Penrith mart this week, 6,000 mule shearling gimmers went through the ring but just two vendors had vaccinated the stock.
Vets believe farmers might be holding off vaccinating, ahead of the crucial breeding sales which start next week.
The market has provided no evidence to suggest unvaccinated stock is selling for less and Cumbrian farmers appear to be hedging their bets.
John Wharton, of Penrith mart, said: “The prices were no higher for the vaccinated stock than for the unvaccinated stock.
“But there may be favour for the vaccinated gimmer lambs being sold over the next few weeks because southern buyers will prefer them vaccinated. We’re advising gimmer lamb sellers to vaccinate.”
County farmers were able to start vaccinating on September 1 when the protection zone was extended to Cumbria.
Farmers can vaccinate their own animals without assistance from a vet. However some, like David Stobart, of Cracrop Farm, need a vet to vaccinate their stock to enable them to export out of the protection zone to Scotland.
But at Border Vets, near Longtown, less than 10 clients have so far vaccinated stock.
Vet Charlie Foster said: “The take-up has been very slow. Defra is saying vaccinate everything now but they are seeing things in a different way than farmers.
“It is absurd to say to my clients ‘vaccinate now’ when only a mile away over the Scots border vaccination won’t start until December or January.”
He said farmers whose stock is still up in the hills are faced with the dilemma of vaccinating now before the breeding sales and tupping starts or waiting until the spring.
At Coomara, near Brampton, a similar story has emerged – only seven farmers have vaccinated to date.
Vet Graham Brooks said: “There is no point because of the weather.
“I think farmers should wait until the spring and vaccinate before turnout.”
Defra is urging Cumbrian farmers to vaccinate and reminding them we are still within the high risk period.
A spokesman said that across the country, 70 to 80 per cent of stock had been vaccinated. He said the vaccination was unlikely to be made compulsory next year and it was up to farmers to take responsibility.
Vets practices Capontree in north Cumbria and Millcroft in Cockermouth have seen a better response with around a third of clients vaccinating.
Kevin Beattie, a director of Capontree, said a third had adopted a wait and see policy and were not dosing, while the rest where vaccinating selectively. He added: “I understand why people are not vaccinating their stock because the risk is getting lower and lower. It all depends on the individual farmer’s attitude to risk.”
The disease crept very close to Cumbria this week when imported cattle tested positive in Bishop Auckland, which is less than 50 miles from the Cumbria border.
Defra said the disease is not circulating in the country’s midge population.
