June 2025
Hello and welcome to the June Newsletter, another glorious month of weather – especially with that very welcome bit of rain in the last week.
BVD Cymru: Last month I spoke about the BVD Cymru scheme coming into force on the 1st July 2025. We have had word that this has been put back, due to problems with the database, to 1st July 2026. This is a bit of a shame, especially for those of you who have been working towards this deadline but all is not lost as we recommend knowing your BVD status and having a plan in place anyway – have a chat at your TB test. Consequently, the compulsory negative herd status will NOT have an effect on your ability to sell to market until 2026.
Bluetongue: New rules have been introduced about the showing of susceptible species at shows over the summer. We are currently outside the Bluetongue restricted zone. If you are taking susceptible animals to a show within the Bluetongue restricted zone, you do not need a license to enter the restricted zone but you need to apply for a specific movement license to leave the restricted zone after showing – try this link:
There are 3 vaccines available – these have been extremely widely used within and around the restriction zone, and inevitably this has led to delays in being able to get hold of it. Also, don’t forget that it will take approximately 3 weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective after the last dose – one dose in sheep, two doses in cattle in the vaccine we are currently ordering.
At our TB update meeting earlier this month, Tom and I listened to a presentation on the Pembs TB project – an in-depth look at individual cow TB results going back over a few years and using these to see if predictions can be made – much the same as with Johnes. It certainly woke the pair of us up, the speaker was excellent. They are taking it on tour – 17th June 7pm at the International Pavilion Builth Wells, 18th June 7pm at Monmouth Livestock Market or 2nd July 7pm at Carmarthen Livestock Market – all farmers welcome.
Hope your harvest continues to go well – maybe a little more grass now.
Mary
Bluetongue Information
There is a lot of talk in the press currently about Bluetongue Virus, so what is all the fuss about and what do you need to know?
The current Bluetongue control zone is shown in the map below, however, from the 1st of July this zone will be extended to cover the whole of England. This effectively means that from that point we should consider Bluetongue infection to be active to the Welsh border, and as insects don’t recognise borders, should be prepared for it to spread this way. If the restrictions continue that way, with Wales remaining outside the control zone, this will have a significant effect on trade as stock from England will not be able to cross into Wales without licensing and testing. This is likely to also effect shows such as The Royal Welsh Show.
Current Bluetongue control zone
What is the effect of infection?
Production— In cattle a significant milk reduction was observed. Belgium saw a reduction of 1.5% of the national volume each month, whereas the Netherlands experienced a 2.3% reduction. We don’t have data at the herd level but it is likely that affected herds suffered a greater reduction than the national average. Obviously we don’t know what the exact effect would be here, but expect it to be similar. We don’t have production data for sheep.
Mortality— Cattle mortality in herds in infected areas, but without confirmed infection, saw a 1.2 times increase compared to previous years. The remaining mortality data for cattle and sheep is shown in the tables below.
Cattle mortality in infected herds compared to previous levels shown below:
Age Effect
Perinatal 1.1 X deaths
Abortion 1.1 X levels
1-2 years old 2.25 X deaths
Over 2 years 1.7 x deaths
Sheep mortality in infected flocks and infected areas compared to previous levels shown below:
Infected Flock
Age Effect
Lambs (<1 year) 12.8 X deaths
Ewes (>1 year) 15.1 X deaths
Infected Area
Age Effect
Lambs (<1 year) 4.2 X deaths
Ewes (>1 year) 4.6 X deaths
Three different bluetongue vaccines were given an emergency licence for use in the UK. The vaccine we are currently ordering and receiving supplies of is a 1 ml dose for both cattle and sheep. However sheep only require 1 dose whereas cattle require 2 doses given 3 weeks apart. Current costs are around £2.65 per dose and it comes in 50 dose bottles.
Any unused vaccine must be returned to the practice and you have to record and notify APHA of the individual ID of each vaccinated animal within 48 hours of administration (there is a website specifically for this reporting). Please contact the office if you would like to discuss anything mentioned here.
Medicine Meeting Interest
In the quieter summer months we usually run some meetings, so thought we would gauge interest for meetings this year. As all red tractor/dairy farms must be certified as trained in responsible antibiotic use we thought this might be a good topic, what do you think?
Let us know at the office if there is a course you would be particularly interested in attending or a topic you would like to learn more about.
Ram Vasectomy Day
We are running our annual ram vasectomy day on Tuesday 1st July. This means we offer ram vasectomy surgery at the discounted price of £80.85. Utilisation of vasectomised rams can help tighten up lambing periods plus are very useful when carrying out advanced breeding work. Ideally they need to be created 6-8weeks before use, to allow healing and ensure they are no longer fertile.
Small Ruminant Advanced Breeding
Our diary is now open for the upcoming advanced breeding season. Offering fertility testing, semen freezing & storage, AI, embryo flushing, implanting and freezing. Call Tom at the office (01443 223751) to discuss your needs and reserve your dates.
Please make note of our new email address found at the bottom of this newsletter.