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Video message on bluetongue
18/12/2008
Scotland's Chief Veterinary Officer features in a video message outlining the reasons behind Scotland's compulsory bluetongue vaccination programme.
Following the success of a series of public meetings on the campaign with livestock keepers throughout Scotland, Mr Milne has prepared a video for those unable to attend the meetings.
In the short three minute film, former television journalist, Ken Rundle, asks Professor Milne about the campaign and the impact bluetongue could have on the Scottish industry.
The video, also available on the Scottish Government's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/scottishgovernment - is backed up by a comprehensive question and answer sheet and a telephone helpline. [The telephone helpline closed on January 30, 2009]
Charles Milne said:
"The BTV8 vaccination campaign is a major step forward in protecting Scottish livestock against this strain of bluetongue.
"However, we cannot now become complacent. It will be several months before a significant proportion of Scotland's livestock will be immune to BTV8. By vaccinating over the winter months in the vector-free period, the risk to our livestock industry has been minimised.
"It is important to remember that the vaccine does not cross-protect against any other bluetongue strain and, as a consequence, livestock keepers must continue to source stock responsibly and avoid the risk of importing new strains."
Farmers with specific questions about their individual circumstances should discuss their vaccination plans with their vet.
The bluetongue information workshops were organised in conjunction with NFUScotland, National Beef Association, Scottish Beef Cattle Association, National Sheep Association, the Scottish Agricultural College, the Scottish Government and Merial Animal Health Ltd.
A compulsory vaccination programme was agreed by the industry bluetongue stakeholder group and the Scottish Government in September.
Scotland is the only part of the UK to implement a compulsory vaccination programme of cattle and sheep. The approach has been taken in full consultation with industry and is considered the best way to protect our industry against the disease. It is recommended that other susceptible animals - deer, goats, camelids (camels, llamas and alpacas) and other exotic animals kept in zoos and wildlife collections - are vaccinated.
The Scottish Government has paid half the manufacturing costs of the vaccine (£2.6 million) for the first year of the programme.
Scotland has become a BTV8 Protection Zone. This allows movement between Scotland and other protection zones only for the BTV8 serotype. Other movements are permitted out of protection zones: if the animals have been vaccinated and have developed immunity, or if they have been kept in vector free accommodation.