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Scottish Government
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Bluetongue vaccination deadline
Two limited extensions have been made to the April 30 deadline for the compulsory vaccination of cattle and sheep against bluetongue.
Farmers with livestock on uninhabited islands and, on a case by case basis, with particularly remote hill sheep flocks north of the Great Glen can apply for a vaccination extension of two months. The extended deadline of June 30 reflects difficulties and potential welfare implications for these groups.
Good progress is being made on the compulsory vaccination programme with over 3.3 million doses of vaccine taken up. Some 8,170 farm holdings in Scotland (over 34 per cent) have vaccinated to date.
Those farmers yet to vaccinate their livestock have been reminded of the April 30 deadline.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said:
"The Scottish Government and industry stakeholders agreed last year that mass vaccination was our best defence against the serious threat of Bluetongue Virus 8. We agreed the importance of obtaining immunity before the vector risk period returns.
"There has been good progress and I would like to remind those yet to vaccinate of the need to do so before April 30. For cattle this means the first dose must be given by the beginning of April.
"In working closely with the industry we have been made aware of potential welfare problems in moving livestock from remote hills in time to meet the deadline. The extension will alleviate this problem while still ensuring Scotland remains protected."
These extensions were devised following discussions with key industry stakeholders such as NFU Scotland, the National Sheep Association and the Scottish Crofting Foundation. They particularly reflect concerns regarding the gathering of heavily pregnant ewes or those with lambs at foot.
Applications for an extension should be made to the local Animal Health Office.
For the remote hill flocks extension the farm's veterinary surgeon should provide evidence that vaccination before April 30 would lead to welfare issues. Any cost to be associated with the veterinary surgeon's time will be for the animal keeper to meet.
By April 30 all cattle and sheep above the age of three months (unless going to slaughter by six months of age) must be vaccinated. For cattle the first dose should be given by the beginning of April to allow time for the second dose by April 30.
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