Blue Tongue

Since August the 17^th when it was first noticed in the Netherlands Bluetongue Virus has spread rapidly amongst both cattle and sheep on the continent. It has sent the veterinary surgeons that still deal with farm animals in the UK searching for their text books. Blue tongue is generally though of as a tropical disease. From time to time it occurs around the Mediterranean in Greece and Italy, but it has never moved so far north before. At the moment there is a 150 Km restriction zone that covers the whole of Belgium and Luxembourg, most of the Netherlands and parts of Germany and France. It is not far away.

Insect Vectors

The disease is transmitted by midges and it is thought that temperature needs to be above 12 degrees Centigrade for it to survive and above 15 degrees for it to multiply in the insects. Investigations of temperatures and wind directions have been carried out to see if it is possible for midges to have brought it here. Blue tongue is a difficult disease to diagnose as some animals show very mild or no symptoms. Cattle are normally thought to be carriers of the virus showing few signs it is when the virus is transmitted to susceptible sheep that mortality rates reach as high as 70%. Signs in sheep are reported to be reddening of the eyes and lips with a nasal discharge and weakness, sometimes swelling occurs on the head and the tongue will change colour.

In the current outbreak cattle are showing signs similar to malignant catarrh and blood test are needed for a positive diagnosis. It is now known that the serotype of the virus has never been seen in Europe before, so just where it has come from and why it is so severe is a mystery.

Cattle Movements

The export of all cattle and sheep from the exclusion zone has been stopped. It has been found that over seventy consignments of cattle have been brought into the UK from the affected area in the past four months. These are urgently being traced and blood tested to make sure they are not infected.

In the past when this disease has occurred in Europe it has spread in the summer when the insect carriers are about then died off in the autumn and winter so we may well be safe this time. Sooner or later it will come to our shores so it about time we started blood testing all cattle and sheep that are imported from the continent as it is something we need to keep out as there are insects here in the summer that can readily transmit the disease.

Controlling Scrapie

As far as I can remember 2006 was supposed to be the year when the National Scrapie Plan finally started to have an impact on everybody as all stock rams were to be bolused and blood tested. In 2002 Eliot Morley stated that “It would be in everybody’s interest if we had a scrapie free flock and a TSE resistant flock. That is the objective of the Government and the sheep industry”. The whole idea of testing pedigree flocks was so that there would be enough type one and type two rams about to fall back on if large numbers of commercial rams were in the lower groups. On the face of it everything seemed to be on course, each year tested flocks have seen an improvement in their status and some have no surprises at the annual blood test because all of their sheep are type one now. Some countries such as Holland and Wales have leapt ahead and started to monitor all of the rams to ensure the long term survival of their sheep. I was more than a little surprised to learn the other day that the European Commission might well step back from the original plan and will no longer make the scheme compulsory in  Europe. The matter is to be discussed later this month. Given the fact that we have had most of the BSE and we have most of the sheep we should be leading Europe in this matter and not be persuaded that it is not now necessary to eradicate scrapie or build up scrapie resistance in our national flock.

Acorn Poisoning

The drought and the hot conditions last month seem to have suited the oak trees and many have a bumper crop of acorns. I am never quite sure just why it is that some years we get cattle poisoned by acorns and other times they will just ignore them. It seems to be worst after a dry spell and when there is a shortage of grass when the acorns are first on the ground. Most cows will not touch acorns as they are bitter. Young stock may sometimes try them, but not eat enough to do any long term damage. Some cows seem to like the taste of acorns and will seek them out whenever they get the chance to eat them. Acorns contain a toxin that in small doses will damage the kidneys. After small doses this damage is reversible, if larger quantities are consumed the renal failure will not respond to treatment and death will soon follow.

Prevention

If you have lost stock with acorn poisoning in past summers you will either be fencing off the trees with an electric fence or spreading slurry under them to keep grazing cattle away. Also keep an eye on any water troughs under oak trees as the acorns and leaves produce tannin which builds up if the water is left to stagnate.

Vote for Robert

Most of you will be aware that Robert Bowdler has worked hard to be one of the three finalists in the Farmers Guardian Young Dairy Farmer of the year competition. It is not an easy thing to try and make a living out of milking cows and he deserves all of the support we can give to help him to achieve his goal. If you have not voted for our celebrity young dairy farmer yet please do so through the Farmers Guardian on the following link.

Buying in Ewes

It is always difficult when you purchase replacement ewes to ensure that you do not introduce new diseases to your flock. You can get a good idea of the likely problems by careful questions about lameness, abortions, vaccinations, worming and dipping. Often Orf is one of the things that can be over looked. Check the sheep carefully. There are different strains of Orf and some of them can be severe, Check the teats and around their mouths to make sure that there are no small scabs that could introduce the disease to the rest of your flock. Rams will sometimes show lesions at the end of their sheath.Orf will readily spread to sheep that have never had the disease before and it is cheaper to treat a small group that the whole of your flock.

Emma has moved!

For over a year now I have been asked at least once a week sometimes more about the progress of Emma and Perry’s new house and when they were likely to move in. I can confirm that the house is nearly finished and Emma and Perry have now moved into their new house at Habberley.

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