Latest news with #Bluetongue
Powys County Times
5 hours ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
MS calls for clarity after livestock ban at Royal Welsh Show
Livestock entries have been banned from certain areas at this year's Royal Welsh Show and an MS is calling for clarity. The decision follows the introduction restrictions due to the spread of the bluetongue virus, which could result in around 40 per cent fewer cattle taking part in the event. James Evans MS raised the issue in the Senedd and called on the Welsh Government to issue a clear statement on its approach to the outbreak. Mr Evans said: "We need clarity from Welsh Government as to their approach on tackling Bluetongue. "We should be following the lead of England on this. "Many farmers in my constituency are cross-border, accessing markets in Hereford, and we need to ensure that farmers are not punished. "I hope that the much-needed clarity will come before the Royal Welsh Show and that this decision may be reconsidered. "This is not the first time the show has been beset with restrictions due to disease, and I am sure the show will go on."
Agriland
15 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
Report: Derogation decision will ‘directly impact milk production' in Ireland
Milk production in the European Union (EU) is 'increasingly shaped by regulatory decision', especially the Water Quality Directive, according to a new Rabobank research report published today (Wednesday, June 11). The report highlights that in 2027 the European Commission will review the 'effectiveness of existing environmental measures' to determine if if additional action is needed to improve surface water and groundwater nitrate levels. 'To date progress has been limited making it likely that stricter policies will be introduced,' the latest Rabobank report warns. It details that previous measures included abolishing or reducing the nitrate derogation in Ireland, Denmark, Flanders and the Netherlands. 'If targets remain unmet, the livestock sector, especially dairy, could face tighter restrictions in the coming years, 'Raboback has forecast. Milk production The bank's latest research shows that in quarter one of this year EU milk production declined – despite the fact that dairy farmers saw 'strong profit margins'. According to Rabobank this decrease was chiefly driven by fewer dairy cows in northwestern Europe and a 'particularly strong start to 2024' which set a high benchmark for comparison with this year. But the report also outlines that some countries out-performed last year's figures and one of these was Ireland which exceeded its previous year's output by 5.2%. Although Rabobank also clarifies that this gain 'was against a low 2024 comparable of-7.7%'. Poland and the UK also outperformed their last year's figures while Sweden and Denmark also saw slight milk production increases. But overall there was a shortfall in EU milk production in quarter one. Animal diseases According to Rabobank leaving aside economic and environmental factors the biggest concern for the EU dairy industry currently is in relation to animal diseases. Recent foot and mouth (FMD) disease outbreaks in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria severely disrupted these countries' milk production and exports. Separately the Bluetongue virus last summer 'significantly impacted' EU milk supply. According to Rabobank if the disease returns it could further restrict output across key dairy producing regions. Although there are challenges facing EU dairy farmers, one key trend detailed in the report is that demand for dairy products remains strong across Europe. Nitrates derogation However, Rabobank has also cautioned that there are two major policy decisions on the horizon which could significantly impact the short-term outlook for the EU's dairy market – tariffs and Ireland's nitrates derogation status. Latest export figures show that there was 'elevated trade' to the US ahead of the potential new tariffs and any new tariffs could, according to Rabobank, significantly impact the EU dairy market. The United States is the largest export destination for EU cheese but butter prices could see a 'less severe impact' the report also details. According to Rabobank the status of Ireland's request to the European Commission to retain the nitrates derogation will 'directly impact milk production in the southern part of the country which is home to 60% of the dairy herd'. 'If rejected dairy farmers could be forced to reduce their herds by up to 18% equivalent to 1.6bn kg of milk. 'The EU is expected to decide before the end of 2025,' the report outlined.
Agriland
15-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Farm orgs call for cross-border cooperation on dog control
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) are calling for immediate and coordinated all-island measures to address the 'growing crisis' of uncontrolled dogs across the country. The farming organisations believe the current fragmented approach to dog ownership regulation is failing farmers, particularly in border areas where enforcement is vulnerable. In a joint statement they said: 'Too often we hear from farmers in these areas whose sheep have been mauled or killed by roaming dogs, and there is no system in place to hold anyone accountable. 'Dogs from either side of the border cannot be identified or tracked, as there is no joined-up, all-island system to trace these dogs.' To address the problem, both the IFA and UFU are calling for coordination and cooperation between authorities, with a database that fully integrates licensing and microchipping information. The groups believe that this system must be accessible to enforcement bodies on both sides of the border to ensure that no dog or owner can go unidentified. Dog control Both groups also claim that there must be full enforcement of existing microchipping and licensing obligations for all dog owners, alongside stronger and clearer enforcement powers for dog wardens, An Garda Síochána, and the PSNI. According to the organisations, penalties for failing to comply must be increased, including substantial on-the-spot fines for unlicensed or uncontrolled dogs right across the island. In addition to dog control, the IFA and UFU warned of the increasing risk of diseases within the sheep and livestock sector on the island. They said: 'Animal diseases such as Bluetongue pose a serious threat to the sheep sector. The financial cost these can have on farms is enormous. An outbreak in one part of the island is a threat to the sheep sector on the island. 'Beyond the farm gate, the knock-on effects a large outbreak would have throughout the agri-food supply chain disrupting local economies and risking export markets could be substantial.' They have called for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to cooperate to implement preventative measures, disease surveillance, emergency response, and information sharing. The groups said that farmers on both sides of the border are 'vulnerable' without a coordinated strategy.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Farmers fear being 'wiped out' if any more diseases strike
A livestock farmer has lost more than half his newborn lambs in one of the first Scottish cases of a deadly virus - and fears he could be wiped out if his farm is struck by any more Schmallenberg virus killed up to 92 of the 152 lambs that Michael Goldie was expecting to deliver last month at his farm in Dundonald near Troon in had remained largely free of the Schmallenberg virus until January but concern is growing after a spike in country's chief vet, Sheila Voas, says the disease is just one of an unusually high number of threats being faced by farmers. She believes it is inevitable that other diseases will spread to Scotland and is urging farmers to be extra vigilant for warning signs. Michael, 52, is a fifth generation farmer who breeds pedigree Suffolk sheep with the help of his mum Helen, who's pair have been working together with the sheep since Micheal was 10 years old and the virus has left them both first realised he had a problem on the second day of lambing at the beginning of called in the vet when they realised some lambs "didn't look right", after which Michael said "it went bang". The financial losses run into tens of thousands of pounds - but he says the emotional toll it's taken on the whole family has been much worse."You're looking at your dreams in front of you effectively just being shattered," he said."If I can get absolutely hammered by Schmallenberg, I could be wiped out by a different vector-borne disease." A range of diseases are causing concern for farmers at the Schmallenberg virus was first detected in Germany in Rural College (SRUC) has confirmed five new cases so far this year - but because it's not a notifiable disease, it is thought there could already be dozens more.A new strain of the bluetongue virus - which originated in the Netherlands - was detected in England in than 200 cases have now been recorded, with movement restrictions in place along the east of the country stretching from Sussex to North viruses are carried by midges which can be blown in the wind, and the changing climate means Scotland is becoming more exposed to diseases previously reserved to warmer Schmallenberg, Bluetongue can kill adult animals and have a more devastating effect on chief vet, Sheila Voas, has urged farmers to remain alert to the threats and submit suspected cases for said: "There are a whole number of diseases there that are causing grief and it's a difficult time to be a farmer."There have always been health-related issues but it does feel like we've got more than is reasonable at the moment." In January, an avian flu protection zone was declared for the whole of Scotland following a confirmed case in a backyard flock in its presence is causing significant concern to poultry farmers and the next risk comes in the spring when infected flocks of pink footed geese pass through Scotland as they migrate protection zone requires enhanced biosecurity measures to be undertaken by keepers although there is no requirement yet for birds to be kept of birds can accelerate transmission where the virus is present, which means housing them in sheds is not always the safest of liver fluke, which is transmitted through mud snails, have been rising over the long can result in the sudden deaths of previously healthy animals including sheep and isolated case of classical BSE - or mad cow disease - was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway in of animals were subsequently culled, although no further cases were picked a single case of foot and mouth disease in Germany led to restrictions on products being understood the source of the case has still not been established. Experts at Scotland's rural college have been developing an app to help farmers improve the efficiency of their monitoring of animal replaces paper-based surveillance and allows farm staff, vets and nutritionists to track and monitor vaccination strategies and infectious disease protocols across a range of areas in real aim is to help farmers test regularly and spot potential problems at an early enough stage to contain are also available to carry out heavily subsidised post-mortem examinations on animals to establish what caused them to says it carried out about 1,400 post-mortems in 2024 and is expecting that number to increase this of veterinary surveillance at SRUC, Dr Pamela Johnston, said post-mortem testing was "absolutely key" to understanding the transmission of added: "If you think back to the foot and mouth epidemics that we've had, [they can be] disastrous. Not only financially but emotionally."It's horrific for the farmers to deal with."Michael Goldie's flock is now showing signs of antibodies which, he hopes, will protect them from a repeat of the Schmallenberg chief vet though says it's "probably inevitable" that Bluetongue will reach Scotland at some stage, maybe even this so farmers like Michael are being urged to be extra vigilant for the signs of that and other diseases that may be coming.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset farmers urged to check livestock for deadly virus
Farmers and smallholders are being urged to stay vigilant for signs of a virus called Bluetongue.A restriction zone has been extended to most of south Somerset by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal Health and Plant Agency, after a case was found in virus mainly affects cattle and sheep, and restricts their Venner, partner with Greenslade Taylor Hunt, which runs the Sedgemoor Auction Market in Bridgwater, said: "Thankfully, animals can recover, death is quite rare." Restriction zone extension Signs and symptoms of Bluetongue include sores, red skin, lethargy and – or BTV-3 – can also cause infertility and breathing problems in some animals but does not affect people or food virus is spread by midges that are often blown over from mainland said they identified cases of the virus in cattle in Dorset, leading to the extension of the restricted zone into south Somerset on 14 February."The restriction zone is a precaution to try and slow down the spread of the disease," Mr Venner said."There's very limited spread at the moment."Under law, if you see it you have to notify the local authorities."Mr Venner added that there was no treatment but a vaccine had been developed that could become available in the UK the National Farmers Union warned that the vaccines only tackled symptoms of the virus rather than preventing means movement controls on livestock and trade restrictions currently in place would still apply to vaccinated animals.
