By Ewan Pate, farming editor

FORTUNATELY, THERE have been no cases of bluetongue in Scotland but there is still a possibility that the spectre of the disease will disrupt the autumn trade in store and breeding livestock.

A good proportion of this stock, especially sheep, cross the border, but some English buyers have already said they are not prepared to purchase unvaccinated stock even although Scotland is officially a bluetongue-free zone.

Most English producers within the bluetongue protection zone, which stretches up to the Midlands, have taken part in a voluntary vaccination programme and some fear they may purchase animals, ostensibly from a disease-free area but incubating the deadly disease.

This could be an expensive business, because there is no compensation scheme in place to cover casualties.

These views have stirred controversy within Scotland, with a minority view among farming industry stakeholders that a voluntary vaccination programme should also have been available in Scotland so that vaccinated stock was available for sale at the autumn sales.

However, the adopted strategy in Scotland is based around a compulsory vaccination programme starting in the early winter once the midges which act as vectors for the virus have become inactive.        

Reassurance for reluctant buyers comes with advice just issued by SAC veterinary services manager Brian Hosie, designed to give buyers in England and Wales the confidence to continue sourcing their livestock requirements from north of the border this autumn.

This latest advice reminds those livestock farmers in England and Wales who are vaccinating or are about to vaccinate against bluetongue that by buying from a free area they can be confident the animals do not have bluetongue or that they have ever been exposed to the disease.

It also points out that by buying from the free area, they are guaranteed not to bring bluetongue on to their holding and that they themselves then have the opportunity to ensure that any disease-free stock arriving on their farm is properly vaccinated against the disease.

Sheep will be immune within three weeks of vaccination and cattle within two weeks of the second vaccine.

NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller welcomed the SAC advice, saying, “It is a welcome relief that Scotland remains free of bluetongue.

“In addition, it is in everyone’s interest that the voluntary vaccination campaign in England and Wales goes well, that there is 100% buy-in from farmers, that all susceptible stock is vaccinated and that this devastating disease is controlled and eradicated.

“Our disease-free status means that we do not have access to vaccine in Scotland as the vaccine is only available in the designated protection zone.”

Jack Clark, managing director of auctioneers John Swan Ltd, at Newton St Boswells, is very much in the front line when it comes to cross border trade.

“I very much welcome this veterinary opinion,” he said. “Around 30% of the breeding sheep we sell go south, including virtually all the Suffolk cross ewe lambs.

“There is also a big autumn movement of store lambs south to Northumberland and Cumbria.

“It appears that the voluntary vaccination programme in the south is going well and Scotland remains free of disease.

“It stands to reason there is less likelihood of problems this autumn and we look forward to seeing our usual buyers.”

Of course, if these buyers were not to appear in force it could have a serious effect on prices. The encouraging aspect is that to date there have been no fresh cases of bluetongue disease in the UK this year.