South-west Scotland becomes bluetongue Restricted Zone
While the region has become a Restricted Zone, some rules have been reduced for the cooler months.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has declared the south-west of Scotland as a Restricted Zone, after evidence bluetongue in the area.
The rules have been in place as of 10 September, replacing a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) that was in force for the region.
Following this change, cattle, sheep and other susceptible ruminants will need a licence if they are being moved out of the Restricted Zone. Farmers and veterinary surgeons elsewhere are also urged to prepare for the disease to gain ‘a permanent hold’ in other places in Scotland.
As always, clinical signs of bluetongue must be reported immediately to APHA.
It is a legal requirement for the Scottish Government to impose a Restricted Zone where evidence shows that disease is circulating in that area. Animals can not be moved out of or within a Restricted Zone if they display clinical signs of bluetongue on the day of movement.
Jim Fairlie, minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, said: "What this shows is that the disease is not going away any time soon, and industry should start to prepare for the disease gaining a permanent hold within the rest of Scotland.
"I recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for farmers and the wider industry and we are continuing to work closely with them on how we deal with the disease in Scotland for the longer term.”
However, also from 10 September, there have been other changes to the rules surrounding Restricted Zones.
Store, fattening and non-pregnant female animals will no longer need to be tested or vaccinated before being moved from a Restricted Zone to a disease-free area of Scotland. Some breeding animals will still require vaccinating and testing before leaving the Zone.
These changes are in response to dropping temperatures, which reduce the risk of bluetongue spreading.
Mr Fairlie said: "What will not change is that vaccination is the only viable long-term strategy for controlling bluetongue. As such, I would urge anyone with susceptible livestock to speak to their vet as soon as possible, both to discuss the right approach for their animals and to make sure vaccine is available when it is needed."
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