Farmers act to protect stock, following Dutch farmer's UK visit

UK farmers are acting decisively to protect their livestock from bluetongue following recent face-to-face meetings with Dutch farmer Jakob Pustjens, who has personally experienced the devastating effects of bluetongue virus in his home country.

Hearing Jakob talk openly about the impact of the disease in The Netherlands since it was first discovered there during 2006 left farmers with a much clearer understanding of bluetongue, and many decided to seek prompt veterinary advice about vaccination following his visits to UK livestock markets.

Chris Jones of Brecon Livestock Market hosted a meeting with Jakob for local farmers. "All who came were more than impressed with the clarity and detail of information that Jakob gave. Several farmers who hadn’t yet vaccinated for bluetongue said they intended to contact their vet the next morning to discuss it. Jakob’s visit was very valuable for both the farmers and the livestock markets - we’ve got to protect our industry and anything that helps us do that is important to all of us."

Lancaster Auction Mart’s John Hughes agrees. "When Jakob visited, there was great interest in what he said. Farmers just hadn’t realised the true risk and

severity of bluetongue disease. Talking to Jakob about his first hand

experience really brought it home, and proved very much that there is a need for vaccination.

"It was good to a have different way to get across the importance of bluetongue vaccination, which we’ve been emphasising, as a market, over the last 12 months," he adds.

Jakob will return to the UK during March to visit a further five livestock

markets:

Week 2 - commencing Monday 9th March

Carlisle: Mon 9 Mar

Skipton: Tues 10 Mar - Lunchtime meeting arranged by CCM Auctions and Kingsway Veterinary Group

Newark: Wed 11 Mar

Longtown: Thurs 12 Mar

Hexham: Fri 13 Mar

With many of the questions about bluetongue currently voiced by UK livestock producers being the same as those which were originally raised by Dutch farmers two years ago, Jakob hopes that by sharing his experiences he will help to increase their knowledge and enable them to arrive at informed decisions concerning disease control and vaccination. He comments:

"As a farmer you never think that bluetongue will affect you, until it does.

Unfortunately, by the time that livestock show visible signs of the disease it’s already too late to prevent it. I knew many farmers in the North of The Netherlands who thought that the disease would be confined to the south and would not reach them. It did and they were left counting the cost," warns Jakob who, in addition to managing his family’s 100 Holstein Friesian dairy cows and 90 heifers, provides advice to farmers throughout the south of the country.

Chris Dodds of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, which is supporting the events in conjunction with Merial Animal Health, adds: "We look forward to welcoming Jakob back to the UK and believe that his visits are of immense value to farmers. Livestock auctions are central to the UK industry and we are happy to play our part in these visits. Bluetongue is a major concern to all of us, so any initiative that provides clear information and facts based on experience is to be welcomed and encouraged."