Extra bluetongue vaccine delights farmers

Livestock farmers warmly welcomed Defra's announcement yesterday that five million doses of the bluetongue vaccine could be ready by the end of next month.

Norfolk farmer Roger Long was delighted that twice as much vaccine could be available to farmers by May 31 as originally predicted.

"This is really fantastic news which will be hugely welcome," said Mr Long, who is a member of the National Farmers' Union's regional livestock board.

"We were promised that the first batch of two million doses would arrive by May 31 but to be told that it could be five million is even better news. It is pretty impressive," he said.

Animal-health officials at Defra said cattle, sheep and goats will be vaccinated in zones across England starting in the coastal strip from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and down to the south coast and then on a county-by-county basis.

Defra, which was the first in Europe to place an order for 22.5 million doses (including 2.5 million for Wales) last December was promised delivery of all the vaccine by the end of July.

Now, Intervet has indicated that it will release the first doses to the UK in May, subject to final batch testing. In a statement, Defra said about three million doses will be delivered in May and could exceed this commitment.

Mr Long, who farms at Scarning, near Dereham, said that once animals have been vaccinated, it will be possible to move animals out of the zone after a 60-day standstill.

Sheep require a single dose but cattle require two, with the second 28 days after the first to protect against the strain of the BT8 virus carried by midges. The doses will cost from 55p to 98p per ml.