Author Topic: Bluetongue vaccine anyone?  (Read 176 times)

PipKelpy

  • Joined Mar 2019
  • North Shropshire
  • Dreamer with sheep.
Bluetongue vaccine anyone?
« on: July 27, 2025, 02:02:32 pm »
Unless you pay to read the interesting stuff, the newspapers online aren't as much to read these days.

Whilst lurking on FB, (as you do) someone had posted a link about bluetongue been found close to the Welsh Border. Well, I knew that was Herefordshire, which also borders South Shropshire, I'm North Shropshire, so am hoping midges don't want to come up here, not as warm at the moment, (been hot, burnt my grass off, no hay crop, blasted grass just wouldn't grow, had to buy in hay, bloody sheep.)

So, the pesky sheep, bordering another country/county, do we vaccinate? Girls currently still got their lambs, going to wean the WH, give the lambs Flystrike Central, now that field is green and lush!! (Not too lush though!)

Are any of you BT vaccinating who are "up here" or further north?
No matter how crap you feel, always remember you're one of the lucky ones with your own piece of land and loony sheep!

Bywaters

  • Joined Apr 2016
Re: Bluetongue vaccine anyone?
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2025, 04:36:07 pm »
I have vaccinated.
With a small flock (lambing 25) any losses that can be avoided are worth de-risking.
Although breeding whitefaced woodlands for over 30 years, we have managed to get reserve female breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show (dead chuffed!) which has been the reward for a lot of hard work, over the last 7 years, improving the flock.
To be fair, we vaccinated before the show, but we would be devastated to lose any one them through not vaccinating, when there is a good chance that it will vastly reduce the chances of them getting it
Did all the ewes, hoggs and most of the gimmer lambs (only had 50 doses)

twizzel

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Bluetongue vaccine anyone?
« Reply #2 on: Today at 12:50:39 pm »
I’m in the south west. We have vaccinated all breeding stock and replacements. Didn’t do meat lambs as they should all be away by the autumn nor have we done calves.

 

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2025. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS