07/08/2026
🦟🦠 The topic on everyone's minds at the moment.... Bluetongue 🦠🦟
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a notifiable viral disease affecting cattle, sheep and other ruminants. It is spread by biting midges, so outbreaks are strongly influenced by weather and midge activity.
The disease does not spread directly from animal to animal. However, infected animals can carry the virus in their bloodstream and infect midges that then spread it to other animals.
What does it look like?
Signs vary between animals and between different strains of BTV. Sheep tend to be more severely affected than cattle.
Possible signs include:
Fever
Depression and reduced appetite
Drooling
Swelling of the face, lips and tongue
Ulcers or erosions around the mouth and nose
Nasal discharge
Reddening of the skin, particularly around the eyes and mouth
Lameness
Swelling around the coronary bands
Breathing difficulties
Drop in milk yield
Abortion, stillbirths or weak newborns
Increased barren rates or reduced fertility
Some infected animals may show no obvious clinical signs at all.
Why does it matter?
Bluetongue can have a significant impact on animal health, fertility and farm productivity.
For sheep, disease can result in significant losses through:
illness + abortions + barren ewes + lamb losses + reduced growth.
In cattle, the effects may be less obvious but can include milk yield reductions, fertility problems and reproductive losses.
How is Bluetongue spread?
🦟 Biting midges are the main route of transmission.
Risk is greatest when midge activity is high, particularly during warmer weather.
The virus can also be introduced through the movement of infected animals or, in some circumstances, through infected germplasm.
*Vaccination*
Vaccination can help reduce the risk of clinical disease and reproductive losses.
However, vaccination is not a substitute for good biosecurity and movement controls, and protection is not immediate.
Speak to us about whether vaccination is appropriate for your flock or herd and how best to fit it into your existing vaccination programme.
What should farmers do?
1. Know the signs
Keep an eye out for unexplained fever, mouth lesions, facial swelling, lameness, abortions or sudden drops in performance.
2. Report suspicion
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. If you suspect it, contact your vet or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
3. Think about movements
Bluetongue restrictions can affect the movement of susceptible animals, so check the current rules before buying, selling or moving livestock.
4. Consider vaccination
Unfortunately supplies have stalled and we are expecting a delay of up to a few weeks until further batches become available to us. Please get your name down on our waiting list ASAP to secure your vaccine doses.
If you need our help or advice on what you should do then please give us a call - 01691 626939.
For an impartial vaccination decision maker this handy guide is available : Vaccine-Decision-Maker-02.04.26.pdf
