By Ewan Pate, farming editor

YESTERDAY SAW a flurry of activity across the country as authorities desperately sought to reduce the risk of bluetongue disease flaring up in the UK.

As they moved into action commentators from across the farming industry were expressing their total disbelief that the threats have been entirely inflicted by fellow farmers.

DEFRA confirmed that 18 out of 35 cattle imported from Germany had proved positive for strain eight of bluetongue.

Initially it was thought that these animals were in Northumberland, but in fact they are on a farm near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, where they remain under surveillance.

Details of sex and breed have not been released but previous problems with imports from Germany have related to dairy heifers.

The other threat reported exclusively in The Courier yesterday related to a pedigree animal in transit from an area of France where both strain eight and strain one of the bluetongue virus are circulating.

It transpires that there were more likely two animals in the consignment, a bull and a heifer.

They were heading for a farm in Aberdeenshire but determined efforts by Scottish Government animal health officials, alerted by an application for a movement licence, managed to persuade the purchaser to stop the lorry and unload the animals at a farm in England where they will undergo further tests.

The identity of the purchaser or the breed of animals have not as yet been unearthed but there was widespread fury yesterday that such a selfish action should put the whole Scottish livestock industry at risk.

The president of the Scottish Beef Cattle Association, John Cameron, said, “The risk of bluetongue coming to Scotland from natural causes was substantial in itself without the deliberate import of animals from already affected areas.

“It is unbelievable that anyone should import at this time, particularly after all the practical advice which has been given out by the Scottish Government and other responsible bodies.

“I feel extremely sorry for Professor Charles Milne, our chief vet, and his colleagues at the Scottish Animal Health Department, who have put so much effort into trying to keep Scotland free from this disease.

“It was thanks to them and the Scottish stakeholders group that we created a separate strategy for Scotland which has allowed us in Scotland to continue to export both sheep and cattle up to date when the rest of the country had been banned from exporting.”

Professor Milne, after consulting with stakeholders, has confirmed he will hold firm on the agreed policy of delaying the start of the compulsory vaccination programme in Scotland until the start of the winter vector-free period when the midges which spread the disease are inactive.

“Vaccinating too early will increase the likelihood of disease incursion into Scotland as animals can move freely between protection zones and there is a delay before the vaccine becomes effective,” he said. “I continue to urge animal keepers to do their bit and only buy stock of known health status.”

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead added, “The decision by some producers to continue to source from high-risk areas beggars belief and is foolish given the potential damage that could be inflicted on our livestock industry.

“It is the responsibility of all farmers to take care when sourcing stock to ensure this country remains disease free.

“The Scottish Government industry stakeholder group has agreed that vaccination is best undertaken during the winter vector-free period and that all practicable steps be taken to reduce the risk of disease spreading before then.”

Deputy chief veterinary officer in England, Alick Simmons, stressed the importance of vaccination but warned, “Recent evidence indicates a drop or delay in vaccine take-up in counties recently brought into the protection zone.

“Sales data for some of those counties suggest that the number of animals vaccinated in these areas could be as low as one in three, and in Northumberland and Cumbria, the most recent counties brought into the protection zone, as low as one in five.”

NFUS vice-president Nigel Miller said, “Bluetongue disease is once again rampaging across mainland Europe and this time they are dealing with two strains—BTV8 and BTV1.

“More than 8000 cases have been found in France, and over 500 in Germany in the last month alone.

“Against the backdrop of member states struggling to cope with the disease, livestock producers in the UK are still bringing in stock from these parts. Hiding behind the EU rules which permit the movement of vaccinated stock is no longer an adequate defence for these people.

“All we would ask is that those livestock producers intent on importing stock, and those agents responsible for setting up the deals, put plans on hold until Europe is seen to have this devastating disease under control.”