April 2025
Hello and welcome to the April Newsletter. We have had an unusually dry March – lovely lambing weather for you to enjoy. Let’s hope it keeps going on the drier side with a side order of some rain overnight.
This month sees phase 3 of the National Johnes Action Plan for dairy farmers. In order for you to comply with your farm assurance, from 31st March, you now have to do a minimum of a 60 cow random screen – truly random. Please phone before you do it and we can help you make it random!
For those of you who are on the Arwain DGC project – where we come and take dung samples every few months – the scheme will continue for another year. This scheme is gathering useful information about antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic usage on individual farms.
You may have seen in the press that following an isolated foot and mouth disease (FMD) breakdown on a single premises in Germany in January, there has been one farm case in Hungary and three farm cases in Slovakia in March. There is currently no FMD in the UK but it is worth reminding every one to be vigilant and to report any suspicions promptly.
We now have authorization to use the Bluetongue vaccines available to us – please phone the office to discuss.
I hope you all have a very Happy Easter and manage to take advantage of the bank holiday weekend at least a little bit. We work as usual on Good Friday but will be on emergency calls on Easter Monday. Don’t eat too much chocolate!
Mary
Blue Tongue Virus 3 – BTV 3 emergency vaccines available.
Welsh Ministers have agreed to licence three Bluetongue (BTV-3) vaccines for emergency use across Wales. Wales’ CVO, Richard Irvine, said: “This decision to license these vaccines was informed by our recent risk assessment indicating that Wales is now at high risk of experiencing an incursion of bluetongue this year.
Our primary aim is to keep Bluetongue out of Wales through biosecurity, vigilance and safe sourcing of livestock. Wales remains free of BTV-3, but it is important to be prepared. Vaccines give Welsh farmers an important tool to reduce any impact of this disease in their herds and flocks. I would encourage farmers considering vaccination to consult their veterinary surgeon to discuss whether vaccination is appropriate for their livestock.”
As veterinarians, we are requested to inform Welsh Government of all Bluetongue (BTV-3) vaccines we prescribe, records must be kept as well as informing all relevant authorities of any adverse effects. The CVO for Wales has requested this record keeping because this is the first time the power to permit an unauthorised vaccine has been used. The vaccines were licenced for use in England last year. Although these vaccines are not authorised, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has assessed them. They consider the vaccines to be of a consistent quality and safety, and efficacy has been demonstrated.
The novel circumstances of this licence means that strict rules must be adhered, if the vaccine is used. When you use a BTV–3 vaccination you must:
Keep a record of every animal you vaccinate – the information you need to record is on the general licence.
Keep these records for at least 5 years.
Provide details including the individual animal IDs and vaccine you use within 48 hours of vaccinating, using an online form: Animal keeper reports of BTV-3 vaccination activity (on gov.uk)
Report any adverse side effects associated with the vaccine, including suspected lack of efficacy, within 7 calendar days to the relevant pharmaceutical company or the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
Other key information:
Vaccines must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon.
Costs must be covered by livestock owners.
Spring vaccination is recommended for optimal protection, ensuring animals are protected before peak midge activity in summer and autumn. Bluetongue is transmitted by midges, which are most active between April and November.
Animal keepers may administer the vaccines themselves as per the manufacturer and veterinary instructions.
Unlike the authorised vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccines claim to reduce viraemia rather than prevent it. This means they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, but (depending on the vaccine) their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced and mortality.
As Wales is a Bluetongue free area, animals vaccinated in Wales are free to move around Great Britain. However, vaccinated animals within a bluetongue zone (for example, restricted zone or temporary control zone) are subject to the same movement controls as unvaccinated animals.
More information can be found on the following website:
Please call the office to discuss with one of our vets if you have an questions. As with any notifiable disease, contact your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office immediately on 0300 303 8268 if you suspect Bluetongue.
Calf and Lamb Colostrum
Due to using a new supplier we have been able to reduce the price of our artificial colostrum ‘Calfs Choice Colostrum 700kg’ - £39 + VAT.
This is enough for a first feed for a calf or can be used for multiple lamb feeds.
Ruminant youngstock health is closely linked to the colostrum they receive. The three Qs -Quality, Quantity and Quickly are an essential reminder of the factors that aid the new born to receive the required antibodies to aid its immunity and protect from disease. Colostrum from the Dam is preferred, to provide immunity to farm-specific diseases. There are always situations arising where the dam’s colostrum is not available or insufficient. Alternatives to this are:
Colostrum from another animal in the herd/flock. In Cattle – ensure this animal is a low Johne’s risk. Individual cows colostrum should be used.
In Sheep - Pooled cows' colostrum (Some individual cows colostrum can causes anaemia in sheep, pooling reduces this risk. If you farm cows as well as sheep, ideally use their colostrum as it will contain IgG to your farm-specific pathogens. If using colostrum from another herd, make sure the donor cows are healthy and screened for Johnes disease.
Artificial colostrum - Artificial colostrum is designed as a supplement, not a total replacement. It should be used as a last resort.
