Fears grow over fertility problems as virus spreads across England and Wales

FARMERS are being urged to vaccinate their cattle against bluetongue before spring turnout, as the virus continues to spread and cause serious fertility issues across England and Wales.

The warning comes following a briefing organised by the National Beef Association (NBA) and Ruminant Health and Welfare (RH&W), as part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) campaign, Battle Bluetongue.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss and NBA Chief Executive Neil Shand both stressed the need for urgent action, warning that delaying vaccination could have severe consequences for herds.

Defra has reported 320 confirmed cases of bluetongue since July last year, but industry leaders believe the true figure may be significantly higher due to under-reporting.

Neil Shand said: “From what we are seeing in England, and to a lesser extent in Wales, there are higher levels of abortions and ‘dummy’ calves during the spring calving season.

“In some cases, calves are being born with severe deformities, including partial or absent brain development.

“We are seeing this across much of England, but notably far less in eastern counties where vaccine uptake was higher due to earlier restrictions.

“With the current value of livestock, protecting cattle against bluetongue is a no-brainer – and vaccination is the best way to do that.”

Dr Christine Middlemiss warned that some of the most serious effects of the disease may not yet be visible.

She said: “The reproductive signs of bluetongue may not appear until months after infection, so farmers must think ahead.

“Vaccinate now while cattle are still housed and can be handled safely, rather than waiting to see the impact later.”

Farmers are also being advised to vaccinate breeding animals, including bulls and tups, well in advance, and to carry out semen testing six to eight weeks after vaccination to ensure fertility is not affected ahead of the breeding season.

Industry leaders warned that bluetongue could be significantly under-reported, as symptoms are not always immediately obvious.

Mr Shand added: “The official Defra statistics could represent only a fraction of the true picture. We would encourage farmers to report any suspected cases so we can better understand the spread of the disease.”

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

In Wales, farmers should call 0300 303 8268, while those in Scotland should contact their local Field Services Office. Failure to report suspected cases is a criminal offence.

Further guidance, including resources and updates on the BTV-3 strain, is available via Ruminant Health and Welfare.

THE FINAL stage of removing decades old agricultural planning condition ties to a Pembrokeshire property has been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire planners.

Back in December, Tim and Cathy Arthur were granted permission for the removal of an agricultural worker-only condition at New Creamson, Creamston Road, near Haverfordwest by members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee.

An officer report for members said the agricultural condition was imposed when the dwelling was built in 1988/89, with a recent certificate of lawful development granted after it was proven the site had been occupied for more than 10 years on breach of that condition.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to stay at a development if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period.

Speaking at that meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd told members the original agriculture worker-only condition was a poor decision by planners back nearly four decades ago for a 50-acre farm that “should never have been approved as it shouldn’t have been viable”.

Since that approval, an application by Mr Arthur before the March committee sought removal of a Section 106 legal agreement, entered into back in 1994, tying New Creamson to the agricultural land along with an agricultural worker condition.

A report for members recommending approval added: “The applicant wishes to separate the land from the dwelling as the dwelling can lawfully be occupied not in connection with agriculture,” recommending that S106 agreement be removed.

Speaking at the March meeting, Mr Vaughan-Harries, who said his clients were not farming the land at all, described the latest application as “just tidying up the paperwork”.

“If you release this today it allows the useful farmland to be released to other agricultural uses.”

Approval was moved by Cllr Mark Carter and unanimously supported by committee members.

WALES’ two farming Unions, NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) have used their joint fringe event at the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ spring conference in Cardiff, to set out some of their shared asks for the next Senedd and Welsh Government term to assembled delegates and politicians.

In the event chaired by Brecon and Radnor MP, David Chadwick, key messages from both Unions’ Senedd elections manifestos were communicated to the audience. Amongst these was the need for the SFS to provide stability for farmers in Wales, the necessity of fair and sufficient funding for Welsh agriculture, a genuinely comprehensive TB eradication strategy which combats the disease in all its sources, a risk-based and evidence-led approach to water quality, and a review of the regulatory burden faced by farmers.

With recent global events now placing additional financial pressures on the sector, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “For well over a decade the amount of funding available to support Welsh farmers has remained cash-flat. Inflation has therefore made significant inroads into the real terms value of this funding, whilst farmers are also facing significant and rising costs associated with regulatory and environmental compliance. The unfolding conflict in the Middle East has underscored yet again the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient and secure funding available to support Welsh agriculture, and to ensure our farming families are able to carry on producing the food we need in a volatile world.”

Developing Abi’s comments further FUW President, Mr Ian Rickman said: “Had the agricultural budget kept pace with inflation it would now be well in excess of £500 million.   We need the next Welsh Government to commit to an inflation adjusted, ring-fenced, multi-annual budget which matches our shared ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector, with the majority of that funding directed towards stability, productivity, and efficiency gains on-farm.”

Delegates also heard from the Unions of how future uplifts to agricultural support funding in Wales are now subject to the Barnett formula, with both NFU Cymru and the FUW setting out their shared concerns about the disadvantage such an arrangement means for Wales. NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “When agriculture plays a more significant role in the national economy than in some other parts of the UK, we need to ensure that future uplifts to agricultural support fairly reflect the size and scale of the sector in Wales, rather than being tied to population size via the Barnett formula.”

There were also heartfelt thanks from both Presidents for the support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats during the 14-month battle with the UK Government over its inheritance tax changes. With Abi Reader commenting: “After a long, hard-fought campaign, a fantastic outcome was secured in December when we saw the threshold at which IHT kicks in raised significantly. Whilst the taxation of business assets as if they were personal wealth remains misguided, the adjustment of the thresholds upwards, combined with the transferability of the allowance now places most family farms in Wales outside the reach of this destructive tax and that is something to be welcomed.”

Bringing proceedings to a close Mr Rickman said: “Both Unions have today emphasised how fair and sustainable funding, evidence-based policymaking and regulatory reform will all be crucial to safeguarding the viability and long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture. 

On behalf of the FUW and NFU Cymru I want to say a big thank you to David Chadwick MP for chairing this afternoon’s session and to all those who came along, listened, and contributed to the discussion. Between now and May the 7th we look forward to continuing constructive engagement with all parties to ensure our shared asks are delivered for the benefit of our farmers, rural communities, and the wider Welsh economy.”