Bluetongue Virus (BTV) is a virus transmitted by midges that affects cattle, sheep, goats, and camelids. There are multiple strains of BTV and the strain currently causing issues in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is BTV-3, although there have been cases of BTV-8 detected. Other strains, including BTV-8, are already present in parts of Europe and continue to pose an additional and evolving threat.
BTV-3 has had serious impacts on the Continent, causing high mortality, significant drops in milk production and major fertility issues. Here in the UK, the most significant impacts have been on fertility, especially cattle, causing widespread infertility, abortions and non-viable ‘dummy’ and deformed calves. Vaccines are available for BTV-3, and keepers are advised to vaccinate as a key preventative measure to protect their stock ahead of the risk increasing.
As we are currently in a low-risk period for the transmission of BTV, movements of susceptible animals, cattle, sheep, goats, and camelids, throughout the UK are unrestricted. However, this situation is seasonal and temporary; as temperatures start to rise, the risk will increase, with midge activity restarting.
With BTV-3 known to have been circulating within regions of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland last year, there is a strong likelihood of disease re-emergence in these areas this summer. As Scotland currently remains free from BTV, we have been working closely with the Scottish Government and other industry stakeholders to determine what measures might be necessary to help keep infection out.
With the whole of England and Wales a single BTV Restricted Zone (RZ), animals are free to move throughout the RZ with no restrictions or testing. This creates a clear risk pathway, as infected animals could move into the northern counties of England without detection. If disease starts to circulate close to the border, there is a chance midge activity will bring infection across the border naturally, placing Scotland’s disease-free status at risk.
After full consideration of these complex issues, NFUS concluded the most appropriate way to minimise the risk of disease spread was to reduce the likelihood of infected animals entering Scotland, through targeted movement restrictions on cross-border moves once the risk becomes significant.
Scottish Government have opted to introduce similar measures to those in place last year, requiring pre-movement testing of animals, other than cattle fully vaccinated using Bultavo-3 vaccine, moving into Scotland. They have retained flexibility for animals attending shows and markets in RZs to return to Scotland without testing if they spend less than four days outwith Scotland. There are also concessions for animals moving into Scotland directly for slaughter.
To assist producers planning moves, the Scottish Government have used environmental and statistical data to determine when veterinary risk assessments indicate that midges are likely to bite animals and allow the virus to replicate. This evidence-based approach has been used to predict when the risk period is likely to start and finish. They have therefore set the date that movement controls are likely to come into force as 1 June and to end as 9 September.
While these dates may be adjusted in response to unusual weather patterns or changes in disease risk patterns, the intention is to provide as much certainty as possible to allow producers to plan ahead with confidence.
For full details on the movement rules, please see our Business Guide Update by logging in to the secure members area of our website.