Livestock News
NSA Briefing on the discovery of Schmallenberg virus in England. January 2012
Introduction
Schmallenberg virus has been confirmed by Defra AHVLA to have been found on 4 farms in England, in the counties of East Sussex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. At this stage most farmers should do no more than be aware and extra vigilant - it is most likely that the infection was transmitted by insects during the late summer/autumn of last year and the risk of further infection being transmitted from these farms is low. There are currently no implications to trade and no "firewall movement barriers" being put in place in the UK, although Russia has put in place export bans on live ruminants and ruminant products from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, where Schmallenberg virus has been present for some time.
Guidance for sheep producers
Official veterinary advice is two-fold at the moment; Farmers are strongly encouraged to support the gathering of information and report any suspicions of Schmallenberg to their veterinary practice (see below for clinical symptoms), and secondly any imports of live animals from EU regions affected by Schmallenberg virus should be undertaken in strict consultation with veterinary advice and guidance.
The clinical symptoms in sheep include late abortion and birth defects/malformed foetuses and the NSA would encourage any sheep keepers that experience such occurrences to speak to their vets and consider post mortem testing. Producers in Scotland should also contact SAC Veterinary Services, and those in Wales and Northern Ireland their Government veterinary departments.
Schmallenberg virus also affects cattle with symptoms including fever, milk yield reduction, and diarrhoea. Defra have indicated that they will cover the costs of testing for Schmallenberg virus although post mortem costs will be at the farmers cost. There is currently no vaccine available to protect against Schmallenberg virus, vaccine manufacturers and laboratories are currently considering whether it would be possible and effective to develop a vaccine but estimates are that such a vaccine would be at least 2 years away. It is expected that animals that have been infected with Schmallenberg virus will develop immunity and production is likely not to suffer in subsequent years - however if experienced it could affect individual flocks seriously.
Summary
It may seem that there is little that farmers can do to protect their flocks, and in terms of vaccine protection this is true. However there are things that farmers can and should do and these include:
- Support the gathering of information and reporting by speaking with their vet regarding any abnormalities in fertility, abortion, or lamb malformations
- Take veterinary advice before importing any animals from areas affected by Schmallenberg virus (details can be found on the defra web link below). The NSA would discourage any imports of live animals from these regions.
- Remember that the virus can be transmitted during periods when insect activity is evident, - but that clinical signs may not be seen until later in the season. Consequently always assess the risks of bringing stock onto your farm.
- Always practice the highest possible levels of general biosecurity and quarantine/separation whenever bringing new animals on site.
- Manage your stock to promote general health and vitality. This can be helped by good nutrition including optimum mineral and trace element levels, and through managing internal and external parasites. Given that there is no vaccine available do all you can to increase the ability of your flock to cope with disease challenges.
For more information please follow this link to the defra web site www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/poa-schmallenburg-update-120117.pdf (note the alternative spelling - both versions are being used).
The NSA will continue to keep you informed of any developments via our web site, our regular e newsletter, and the Sheep Farmer magazine. If you do not receive the e newsletter and would like to please email membership@nationalsheep.org.uk with your membership number, to be added to the list of recipients.
Changes To EID Regulations - November 2010
"Provided by the National Sheep Association"
With the EID regulations now having been in place within the UK for almost a year many sheep farmers are still only just coming to terms with the requirements. By now all flock owners should have either used the new electronic system or be ordering their electronic tags for the 2011 crop of lambs.
Depending on which part of the country you are in and whether you are tagging breeding or sheep that are intended for slaughter under 12 months of age, these will be slaughter tags (EID or non) or full double tagged EID. Having gone over the issues of tagging there is then the problem of knowing just what to record in your records whenever sheep are moved or identified.
Even though the ink is barely dry on the new rules, there will be from the start of 2011 some further movement recording requirements to take on board. The NSA is urging its members to be fully aware of the existing recording rules and to acquaint themselves with the new ones that will come into existence in the New Year. These changes apply to movement documents and are to be introduced from January 1st 2011. They will affect ALL sheep farmers and are in ADDITION to the records you are currently required to keep in your holding register.
There are three major parts of the recording requirements which you need to be aware of :-
1. Holding Register
From December 31st 2009 you should have been recording the individual identification number for full EID (two tags) animals born after January 1st 2010 when they are:
- First identified (up to nine months of age if they stay on the holding of birth)
- If the animal dies
- Or if the animal moves to a different holding number
Slaughter animals (tagged with a single tag EID or non EID) are still required to be recorded on a batch basis (flock numbers) only.
Animals that were born before December 31st 2009 do not have to be recorded individually in the holding register during 2011.
2. Movement Document
From January 1st 2011 the legislation regarding what has to be recorded on the movement document changes. From that date ALL sheep tagged with full EID (two tags) must be recorded individually on the movement licence. However, if the sheep are destined to be either moved within a business (under the control of the keeper depending upon which part of the UK you are in) or moved through a Central Point Recording Centre (CPRC) then batch recording is still permitted.
The CPRC will provide the individual numbers needed for the Holding Register. Please talk to the operator of your CPRC before you move sheep onto that facility from the start of next year (2011) to ensure that you are aware of the service that is being offered if those are sheep that are double tagged with EID.
Slaughter animals and historic animals can still be moved on a batch basis and should be recorded as so.
3. Historic Animals
As things stand at the moment, from January 1st 2012, legislation will change once again and this time it will affect your historic flock. These are the animals born before the start of 2010 and they will not necessarily have EID or double tags (although Shropshire Sheep will be at least double tagged to comply with SSBA rules). The legislation that is proposed to come into force at the start of 2012 will require the individual recording of these animals if they are destined for further sale, but if not if they are moving to slaughter or within a business.
So remember that we now all need to double tag our sheep when we keep them for breeding purposes or sell them as such. The left ear should be a yellow EID tag and the other ear can be any colour other than yellow or red and need not be an EID. So order your tags for the coming months and hopefully this year things are much easier obtaining them from the manufacturers now that they are used to them – but remember to maintain the SSBA tagging identification requirements detailed in your SSBA Flock Book. – That being and individual number for each sheep, your Affix letter code and the year of birth.
Happy Lambing.
Taken in part from the NSA Sheep Farmer journal.
NSA Supports NFU Position on Badger Control in fight against Bovine TB:
NSA has made a brief response to the Defra consultation on a range of measures to try and eradicate BovineTB. The proposals include action to control the disease in badgers in England. Although not directly a sheep issue of any consequence, it was felt appropriate that NSA support NFU in their efforts to change policy on Bovine TB to allow a badger control programme to be introduced as many NSA members will have cattle and will have been affected by this terrible disease. The NSA response reflects this. Anyone wishing to see the NSA response or the NFU response which we have supported should contact the office in Malvern.
Fixed Costs make up the Majority:
Did you know that fixed overheads such as labour, machinery and power account for around 2/3rds of the cost of production on sheep farms. The percentage is very similar whether the flock is in the top third for overall cost of production or the bottom third. However the difference in monetary terms is around £12 per ewe (fixed cost for top third is £67/ ewe and for bottom third £79/ewe).
In today’s world of relatively high prices for sheep, it is vital that sight is not lost of the ever increasing costs associated with their production. Variable costs tend to stay in the mind especially as the corn bill or drench invoice is paid, but it is far too easy not to focus on fixed costs. It is clear that there is potential on every farm to reduce them but before that can happen they need to be identified. Several NSA regions have run costing meetings during the last year and more are planned for this winter, the response has always been very good and they are definitely thought provoking for those who attend. All levy boards throughout the UK also have very good information (mostly web based) on both variable and fixed costs and tips on how to reduce them. The challenge with reducing costs is, as many sheep farmers have found out, to only do it in ways which do not result in a loss of flock performance that equates to more than the money saved by reducing costs.
Tell us what you think about Levies:
Levy increases just below or above 20% have either been brought in or are under consultation in all parts of GB. Scotland has already gone through the consultation process with industry and does not appear to have encountered too many objections; Wales and England are out to consultation at the moment on increases (the first since 2001).
Levy bodies are an easy target for criticism and no doubt there are times when individuals will think that they have not spent the money well. However it seems to NSA that they generally do a good job for the industry and are continuing to move forward with good initiatives and ideas. NSA wishes to be positive in its response about these proposed higher levies as long as it is clear how the money is being spent. NSA is encouraged to be positive by the fact that there is good commitment from the levy boards to use the extra funds to support the critically important export market and to develop the ever increasing Halal sector on which the sheep industry depends. NSA would also wish to see the knowledge transfer projects that are undertaken enhanced and greater technical detail introduced alongside more basic information.
Should NSA be supportive if there is a well made case with firm plans in place, or should we not – your comments are welcome.
RAC Report Covers Many Aspects of Sheep Industry:
The annual Royal Agricultural College and Rumenco 100 Club Annual Fellowship in Beef and Sheep has been written this year by Eblex Sector Director Nick Allen. This excellent document covers many aspects of the current sheep industry and is thoroughly recommended no matter which part of the UK you come from. Please refer to the Eblex website for more information.
From www.vetsmed.com 04 Jun 2010
Veterinary associations have welcomed the European Commission announcement that Britain’s bluetongue status will be reclassified as a Lower Risk Zone (LRZ) for bluetongue virus (BTV8) and are asking members to get the message out to clients as soon as possible.
Britain is currently part of the BTV8 Protection Zone, which covers much of Europe, and will become a LRZ on Saturday 12th June 2010. The LRZ is a new classification which requires stricter vaccination conditions to be placed on bluetongue-susceptible animals being imported. These stringent conditions are:
vaccination plus a 60-day wait; or
vaccination plus a test 14 days after onset of immunity; or
booster vaccination within the time stated on each vaccine’s data sheet.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and its specialist divisions the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), the Goat Veterinary Society (GVS) and the Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS) are urging veterinary surgeons to inform clients who import susceptible animals of the changes to import rules, which will take effect on 12th June.
As part of the JAB (Joint campaign Against Bluetongue) campaign group, the veterinary profession is also urging farmers to continue to vaccinate their livestock due to the small but ongoing risks of re-infection from wind-borne spread of the disease, and the risk of importing infected foetuses.
The profession believes that a small but significant number of pregnant animals could be carrying a BTV-infected foetus but still test negative in the post-import blood test. The newborn animal could infect the local midge population and restart the circulation of the disease. Once the disease is in the midge population it can spread huge distances in short periods of time.
Commenting, Nicky Paull, Past-President of the BVA and member of Defra’s Bluetongue Core Group, said: “The move to a Lower Risk Zone is fantastic news for Britain and another step in the direction of disease-free status. It is something that the veterinary profession has fought for and we are delighted that the new arrangements mean that vaccination can continue in Britain.
“With imports to Britain increasing at a high rate, we know that the biggest threat to the country was importation of the disease. That is why the additional vaccination measures for imports are vital in protecting British livestock. “Veterinary surgeons need to inform clients who import susceptible species of the changes to the imports rules as soon as possible and direct them to further information on the Defra website or at the local Animal Health Office.”
Gareth Hateley, Chair of the BCVA Notifiable and Exotic Diseases Working Group, said: “The move to a Lower Risk Zone must not be seen as an excuse to relax vaccination measures. Although it does greatly reduce the likelihood of importing the disease, that threat still remains from the small, but significant, risk of an infected foetus being imported."The threat of wind-borne re-incursion also exists and once the disease is in the midge population it can spread very quickly.”
Nick Clayton, Hon Secretary of the GVS, said: “Vaccination remains the key to protecting British livestock. Vaccination now will protect your livestock, but if you wait until disease is present, you will be shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. In an emergency vaccine production may not keep pace with demand if BTV is confirmed in the UK. “Vets need to encourage farmers to maintain a high level of immunity in the livestock under their care. If a ‘breakdown’ occurs, awkward questions are certain to be asked."
Paul Roger, Bluetongue Stakeholder Representative for the SVS, said: “This is a very important step for Britain and we must pay tribute to the hard work of the Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, and his team in Defra. “The veterinary profession wholeheartedly welcomes the move to a Lower Risk Zone and the additional protection it affords Great Britain.”
Minister for State for Food and Agriculture, Jim Paice MP commented: ‘This is a great result that speaks volumes for the work done by farmers and vets, who’ve worked with the Government to achieve this Lower Risk Zone status for bluetongue. It will help protect our livestock producers but they must remain vigilant and anyone importing stock must make sure that they meet the new requirements for importation.’
Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said: ‘The news from SCoFCAH that Great Britain has achieved Lower Risk Zone status is testament to the excellent cooperation between industry and government demonstrated from the earliest days of 2007’s bluetongue outbreak. We have remained in a bluetongue Protection Zone since the first case was confirmed and the efforts of responsible livestock owners and vets in vaccinating stock and the surveillance work by Animal Health, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, and the Institute for Animal Health has allowed us to successfully apply for this revised status. ‘But we cannot become complacent, and I’d encourage farmers and vets to continue to vaccinate their livestock and remain vigilant for disease while additional targeted surveillance continues in the higher risk areas.’
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BLUE TONGUE
(click on images for larger versions)
Shropshire breeder and vet, Anne Tordoff, has kindly written this article to help members understand the disease.
Blue Tongue is caused by a virus of which there are 24 different strains. It is primarily spread by insect vectors particularly a species of midge but there can also be limited transmission by infected semen or blood products.
The disease was previously thought to be a problem of warmer countries and had never spread further than approximately 40 degrees north – Southern France, Spain & Portugal. However that all changed in the summer of 2006.
The midges tend to breed in damp or wet soil enriched by fresh or composted dung or organic matter. They feed on the blood of large vertebrate animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, goats & deer. They tend to be most active around dawn & dusk or on dull days and in the shade. Populations fall dramatically as the weather gets colder through the winter though it is not unknown for some to emerge on a mild winter’s day. The average life span of the midge is around 10 days.
Transmission of Disease
On biting an infected animal, blood containing virus is taken in to the midge’s gut. It then takes 7 to 10 days for the virus to pass through the body & the virus to become fully established in the salivary glands of the midge. The midge is then said to have become “competent”.
One bite of a competent midge can transmit infection to a susceptible animal and large numbers of midges may feed on a single animal during the course of a night, possibly 10,000 bites / hour in cattle.
The ability of the midge to become competent and transmit the virus depends on the ambient temperature. The virus can’t develop in the midge below about 14 degrees C. Peak development and the shortest time for competency to develop is around 30 degrees C.
Midges can fly only about 1km per day but can be carried on a favourable wind up to 100km. The wind speed, temperature and humidity also play a part. It is possible for the virus to over-winter in an animal. A cow bitten at the beginning of winter could possibly still be carrying virus capable of being taken up by a midge, into March or April. If the temperature in the spring is just high enough to allow the virus to establish in the midge then “bingo” – the disease is back. This is thought to be how the virus re-emerged in Europe this year.
Clinical Signs
These vary with the strain of the virus and the species of animal. The worst disease tends to be seen in sheep. The incubation period from the bite of an infected midge to the first clinical signs is 3 to 8 days.
Acute cases produce the following symptoms: fever lasting a week or so; reddening of the mucosa (inner lining) of the mouth & nose; salivation, runny eyes and nasal discharge; the lips & tongue may become swollen & the swelling may extend over the head, ears and under the jaw “bottle jaw”. There may also be tiny haemorrhages over the mucosa of the mouth, nose & conjunctiva, necrotic lesions on the gums, cheeks and tongue after 5 to 8 days which gradually heal under a membrane of serum & pus. Breathing may be laboured breathing & the animal may pass bloody diarrhoea. There may also be inflammation just above the horn of the hoof, lameness & a hunched back, rapid weight loss, weakness & twisted neck. Up to 78% of infected animals may die.
In chronic cases the signs are muscle damage causing long term lameness; wool break leaving patches of bare skin; swollen feet, sometimes just 1 foot affected & seen long after the original infection.
Control Strategies
The disease is most likely to be introduced to the UK by the wind spreading infected midges from northern France, or the importation of an infected animal or midges travelling with these animals. There are various measures currently in place to counteract these.
The Met office is working closely with Defra to plot the weather conditions each day around the nearest infected areas to us and so predict when a risk of windborne midges arriving here may occur.
No imported animals are allowed to enter this country from the infected areas however other imported animals are allowed to transit the restriction zones on their way here. These animals must be treated with an approved insecticide before passing through the zones. On arrival here they are immediately restricted and subjected to a clinical inspection by a Veterinary Officer, followed by blood sampling. The restrictions are not removed until clear test results are received.
Should BT be confirmed in any animal then the affected farm will be immediately restricted until at least the source is determined. If it is a recently imported animal and the chances are that midges may not yet have become infected then it is possible that this animal may be slaughtered. If the animal has not been imported so has likely been infected by a midge here.
A 100km radius protection zone will be set up and a surveillance zone a further 50 km out from that. Licensed movements will be allowed within these zones but probably not between restricted areas & free areas. Midge monitoring using light traps will be started to determine if competent insects are present.
Advice will be given for farmers to try to minimise contact with the vector such as housing from dusk to dawn (not very effective unless use tiny mesh screens or covers over doorways impregnated with insecticide). Insecticides may be used. Midge habitats may be altered by mending leaking taps/pipes, draining wet areas, clearing up muck heaps etc and by the use of larvicides on breeding habitats.
Vaccination may be considered especially if the disease becomes endemic, however there are problems associated with this. No BT vaccine currently has a marketing authorisation in the UK, however unapproved ones could be used if the CVO directed, in an emergency. The best vaccine to use is one containing the specific serotype involved, failing this a closely related strain vaccine may give some protection against disease.
My latest information is that a BTV – 8 vaccine was not yet available although nearing completion however it may not be ready until the end of this year or next year.
Treatment
Being a viral disease there is no specific treatment. It is only possible to treat the symptoms and support the animal as it tries to recover itself. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with antibiotics may be of some use but sometimes the only way is euthanasia to relieve suffering.
BT is spreading dramatically in Europe and it was with great regret that we heard that a member of our breed society on the Continent had had it confirmed in his sheep. I’m sure we all offer him all our support and best wishes and hope that the disease will be as limited as possible.
I feel it is only a matter of time before we have a case emerging in this country, most likely in the south of England. We were lucky last year that the cases that were recorded in the North of France, just across the Channel, occurred at a time when the wind conditions were unfavourable to the movement of midges over here. We may not be so lucky this year!