Scotland farmers face up to four week wait for new bluetongue vaccines

Livestock owners are being urged to order the vaccine through their local veterinary practices rather than wait for stocks to become available, amid warnings that it can take up to a month to produce new batches.

The National Farmers Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) confirmed the latest case of BTV-3 in a bovine animal at a farm in Dumfries and Galloway. It remains unclear whether the animal was a cow, heifer, bull or stott.

It comes after a lamb and three sheep on three farms in the same region were confirmed to have the virus last week. The latest case means a fourth farm in the Creetown area has been affected by the spread.

Vivienne Mackinnon, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Scotland, confirmed the vaccine supply issue in correspondence with Finlay Carson, the MSP for Dumfries and Galloway.

“There is a supply issue with the vaccines at the moment, due to the spike in demand, and a four-week lead time in producing new batches,” she said.

“The advice from government and manufacturers is to put orders in now, rather than waiting for stock to be available, as this will enable manufacturers to gauge demand and respond accordingly.”

Bluetongue is transmitted by biting insects such as midges, and experts believe an infected plume has carried the virus to Scotland from outbreaks in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man or northern England.

NFU Scotland said more than 100 animals had been tested in the area around Creetown, with all other results coming back negative.

The union said it could be about a week before there is a clearer picture of whether the disease is spreading further, although initial indications suggest incidence remains low.

It warned farmers that vaccination remains the best way for livestock keepers to protect susceptible animals, which include all species of ruminants and camelids.

Research suggests sheep are most severely affected and most likely to show clinical signs, with the disease potentially causing serious illness and mortality. It can affect productivity and fertility in cattle, while goats and other species often carry the virus with mild or no symptoms.

“We strongly encourage keepers to speak to their vet about vaccination, with those in the South of Scotland taking particular priority,” NFU Scotland said.

Ms Mackinnon said there was concern about vaccine uptake and whether all vaccinations were being reported as they should be on ScotEID, Scotland’s official livestock traceability and data platform.

“There is currently a significant gap between numbers of livestock and numbers reported to be vaccinated,” she said, urging MSPs to encourage their constituents to keep records up to date.

Local veterinary practices in Dumfries and Galloway said they experienced a surge in calls and a rapid depletion of vaccine stocks after the first cases were detected last week.

Ark Vets in Lockerbie reported using 20,000 doses in 48 hours and moving concerned callers to a waiting list.

The Scottish Government said it was engaging with manufacturers over the possibility of securing additional supplies.

Scotland’s chief veterinary officer, Sheila Vos, confirmed that vaccine stocks were “currently a little lower than normal” due to “a considerable upsurge in demand in the last two weeks”.

She said: “The manufacturers have responded to the significantly increased demand, and more is being a) mobilised and b) produced, meaning it will be available in the next few days. Farmers are encouraged to pre-order it through their vet practices, so that supply and demand can be matched.”

Scotland was the only country in the UK to remain free from BTV-3 until earlier this month.

The virus was recorded at the Johnson family’s Kirkmabreck Farm in Dumfries and Galloway on 8 August, when a lamb tested positive.