Bluetongue Protection Zone extended to include Wales
As of midnight on the 1st of September the whole of Wales has been included in the bluetongue protection zone. This means that the area that covered the South East of Wales has been extended to cover the whole country.
The extension to the zone means that farmers are able to move their stock from Wales to all areas of England that are in the protection zone. Stock can only be moved to a “free” area if they have been vaccinated under a vet’s supervision, subject to a 60 day standstill or 35 days if a blood test establishes immunity. Stock can be moved into Wales from all areas in the protection zone as well as the free areas which will come as good news to many people wanting to purchase animals at any forthcoming Autumn Sales. Farmers are however urged not to move animals from areas of higher risk unless needed.
Farmers have been urged to vaccinate their stock as soon as possible as September is a month of high risk for the disease and it was the month when the first case was reported a year ago. The vaccine is available by ordering it from your vet.
The vaccine comes in 50ml and 20ml bottles, and is available through private veterinarians via veterinary wholesalers.
The wholesale “list” price is reported to be £22.02 for the 50ml bottles and £13.10 for the 20ml bottles.
The final on-farm price is likely to be around £27.50-£33.00 for the 50ml bottles (55-66p per ml) and around £16.35-£19.65 for the 20ml bottles (82-98p per ml) plus VAT, to cover the overhead, handling and administration charges throughout the distribution process.
Farmers are reminded that the vaccine will require a 1 ml dose in sheep and two separate 1 ml doses in cattle.
Tags: blue tongue, protection zone, vaccine
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