By DAVID COULTER david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 10:41, Friday, 22 May 2009

DESPITE warnings that a hot summer may heighten risks of spreading the bluetongue virus, it will take an outbreak of the disease in the North before Tynedale farmers decide to vaccinate.

Safety first: Farmers are being urged to vaccinate their livestock ahead of the summer.

This is the opinion of Trevor Simpson, an auctioneer at Hexham and Northern Auction Marts.

The Joint Campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB) has urged farmers to vaccinate their livestock to prevent the spread of the disease, which is caused by a virus carried by midges.

Weather forecasters have predicted a hot summer this year which would lead to an increase in midges, in turn creating a greater risk to livestock.

But Mr Simpson said farmers would have already vaccinated their animals if they were concerned about their stock being affected by the virus this year.

But it was apparent a high percentage had decided against it.

He said rumours about the negative effects of vaccinations, high costs and difficulties in jabbing their animals were deterring farmers.

Many farmers, he said, would only act once there was a local outbreak.

Mr Simpson said: “If there was an outbreak in the region, then farmers would look and say ‘we have to vaccinate.’

“But there are no signs after last year of anything happening, so they just haven’t done it.

“A lot of people around and about have vaccinated but it is not a big percentage.”

Although Mr Simpson said he would encourage farmers to use the bluetongue vaccinations, he acknowledged that the decision was very much in the hands of the individual.

Many farmers were put off by stories of vaccinations leading to infertility among animals, and high abortion rates.

Each animal needed two jabs, three weeks apart, and farmers were unwilling to add to their already heavy workload.

Mr Simpson also said that there was a yearly cost for vaccinations, with many believing that the expenses were not worthwhile.

He said: “There are various different issues that are very worrying for farmers.

“It is a big cost to the farm and there has been an awful lot of stories that vaccinations can affect the fertility of both cattle and sheep.”

JAB has urged farmers to vaccinate their livestock so animals were protected, stating that the risk of infection was increasing on a daily basis.

JAB feared a warm and dry summer, forecast by the Met Office, would lead to higher midge activity.

In a joint statement, JAB said: “Forecasters predict the temperatures this summer could top 30C – something that only happened once during 2008.

“All susceptible animals are under increasing risk of infection as the warmer conditions are perfect for bringing out midges and allowing the bluetongue virus to flourish.

“We know that adult midges are rapidly increasing in numbers and that they are now biting livestock.

“It is midges from the near Continent that will once again pose a real threat to the livestock industry in Britain, so the only sensible course of action is to vaccinate.

“To protect our industry from this disease, the message remains very clear – ‘don't hesitate, vaccinate’. And we urge farmers to speak with their vet as soon as possible and order the vaccine today.”

First published at 09:39, Friday, 22 May 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk