Compulsory vaccination for Bluetongue has started in Scotland. From Monday 3rd November all cattle and sheep in Scotland, three months and older, will legally need vaccinating against strain 8 of the bluetongue virus (BTV8). Vaccination must be completed by 30th April 2009.
The whole of Scotland is now in a Protection Zone which will allow freer movement of livestock between England, Wales and other BTV8 zones but it will bring restrictions on the live export of stock from Scotland to countries still free of the disease.
Vaccine can be administered by the livestock keepers but it must be ordered through a vet who will be recording and reporting the number of doses bought. The Scottish Government is set to pay 50% of the cost of the vaccine and they will be carrying out checks to ensure that all keepers have purchased enough vaccine to cover their stock.
Animals too young to have been vaccinated by the end of April, or which are born after the 30th April, must have completed their vaccination before being moved off their holding of origin.
The only exceptions to vaccination are cattle and sheep that will be slaughtered within 21 days of the end of April 2009. Shetland, although part of the protection zone, will be the only region exempt from the compulsory programme due to their isolation and to the additional checks they already have in place for imported animals.
Goats, deer, llamas and alpacas which are also susceptible to Bluetongue can be vaccinated on a voluntary basis.