14/02/08
NBA Scotland cannot understand the risk the Scottish Government
is prepared to take by not ordering bluetongue vaccine for general
use on livestock farms this summer.
It says it is unrealistic for Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard
Lochhead, to expect farmers to be able to counter the advance of
bluetongue virus, which has the potential to inflict disastrous
economic and animal welfare damage on their businesses, without
access to an effective restraint.
And is alarmed that while the Scottish Government says it would be prepared to
spend up to £10 million on financing a national vaccination programme,
should bluetongue rampage towards the Scottish border later this year, it is
ready to gamble on only 100-200 Scottish animals being infected over 2008 – and
prefers to hold back its funding until 2009 instead.
“England expects a bluetongue conflagration in previously free areas over
July and August and is rolling out a national vaccination programme, that will
begin at the end of May, to counter this,” explained NBA Scotland chairman,
Iain Mathers.
“Livestock farms in Scotland face the same dangers and the Scottish Government
should acknowledge that a deadly and damaging disease like bluetongue is like
a fire which can only be controlled on the spot by an effective extinguisher
like vaccination.”
“Mr Lochhead’s advisors have said they will be able to secure sufficient
vaccine for Scotland if they are faced with an emergency but at this stage prefer
not to commit themselves to the cost of the order.”
“They have also said they prefer to defer covering Scotland with the protection
zone (PZ) status which is required for vaccination to take place because they
wish to protect live animal trade with Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.”
“However they have not acknowledged the difficulties Scotland’s store
and breeding stock producers will have selling unvaccinated stock into much more
important markets in England and Wales this autumn if Scotland does not vaccinate
or volunteer for PZ status.”
“Nor have they recognised the appetite that already exists among Scottish
farmers themselves for access to bluetongue vaccine. More of Scotland’s
livestock farmers than the Scottish Government appears to think want the comfort
of vaccination cover.”
“And many have already said they will do all they can to vaccinate, whether
it is officially approved or not, because they are worried that when autumn comes
there may not be a market in England or Wales for their stock unless they have
been protected from bluetongue.”
“NBA Scotland has no doubt that adequate supplies of vaccine should be
available to beef and sheep farmers this summer because it not only shields their
animals, and their business, from a debilitating disease but also prevents farmers
who have not vaccinated their stock facing additional cost through being cut
off from regular markets in those areas of Britain where vaccination has taken
place.”
“We are delighted to hear Mr Lockhead will provide BTV8 vaccine when necessary,
but will vaccine be delivered when needed at the right cost. There is still time
for the Scottish Government to order vaccine that can be used in 2008 to protect
the Scottish cattle herd and sheep flock – and I would urge it to do so
immediately,” Mr. Mathers added.
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