Bluetongue vaccine to be available to buy

The Government has announced that it has ordered 22.5 million doses of bluetongue vaccine to be available to farmers from early summer next year.

The vaccine for the strain of the disease which arrived in Britain this year - serotype 8 - will be ordered from the firm Intervet after a tendering process which started last month.

Farmers will be able to buy the vaccine from the bank but at a price yet to be announced.

Lord Rooker, Animal Health and Welfare Minister, said:" This decision is based on consideration of technical specification and price, and I am confident that the Intervet vaccine will offer the best value and most effective option to farmers."