[Croftgary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-19883897

[tizaala]

Not just Scotland , our vets has a warning notice up  in Knighton

[jaykay]

Have you still got midges flying and biting though? They've stopped here, so I'm assuming that therefore the sheep are unlikely to get infected in the first part of their pregnancy. Well, especially since the tups don't go in til Nov in general round here.

Fingers crossed that's the case for everyone up north and that those folk who had to deal with it last year now have immune flocks.

[Berkshire Boy]

Is that right Tizaala, a bit too close to home for my liking.

[Haylo-peapod]

I must admit I have been contemplating putting the ram in a few weeks later this year to ensure the midge activity has died down.

[Backinwellies]

I've never seen so many mozzies in my house as this last 2 weeks .... special trip out to buy some mozzie spray.    for all those cattle and sheep.
Linda

[Lesley Silvester]

I don't know.  You get over one virus and another one rears it's head.  They  don't mention goats but is that because sheep and cows are more common?

[kja]

I don't know.  You get over one virus and another one rears it's head.  They  don't mention goats but is that because sheep and cows are more common?

yes but goats are susceptible to it too

[Ina]

I've never seen so many mozzies in my house as this last 2 weeks ....

Glad it's not just me, then. I always hear one buzzing (and occasionally see it) although my house rarely gets above 15 degree - the last few days even rarely above 13... They seem to get used to the lower temperatures, I think!

[SallyintNorth]

Have you still got midges flying and biting though? They've stopped here, so I'm assuming that therefore the sheep are unlikely to get infected in the first part of their pregnancy. Well, especially since the tups don't go in til Nov in general round here.

We've had midges out in force the last couple of days with this lovely Indian Summer we're having.  I don't know that they're biting though - I haven't been bitten, anyway.

We've got one tup just gone out, wiht the earlies, 22 ewes...

[Berkshire Boy]

Indian summer Sally, any midges in mid wales are likely to drown.

[tizaala]

Will putting the tups in later make any difference? surely the will carry the virus if they are already bitten.

[Old Shep]

We are going to have to loose three tups this coming weekend (due to getting time off work etc next spring).  Are there any spray on midge repellants we can spray the ewes with?  (Avon's Skin so soft may be a tad expensive for the whole flock!!)

[SallyintNorth]

Will putting the tups in later make any difference? surely the will carry the virus if they are already bitten.

I don't think anyone knows if the infection affects the sperm.  The epidemiology seems to tell us that the major problem arises when pregnant ruminants are infected in the first third of the pregnancy. 

As I understand it, the tups won't be able to infect the ewes direclty, they need a biting midge as a vector.  So as long as the midges aren't about by the time the girls get tupped, you should be okay.

[SallyintNorth]

We are going to have to loose three tups this coming weekend (due to getting time off work etc next spring).  Are there any spray on midge repellants we can spray the ewes with?  (Avon's Skin so soft may be a tad expensive for the whole flock!!)

There was talk of using Butox Swich on cattle - you could ask your vet if it's okay to use and likely to be effective on sheep.