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| News.
Foot and Mouth Disease.
All movement restrictions are now back to normal pre 3rd August restrictions
For more information and updates, DEFRA News Updates- http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/index.htm
SEERAD News Updates- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/News-Today
BBC News Updates- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/default.stm
Blue Tongue Disease
Government vets have confirmed bluetongue disease is circulating in the UK and is now classed as an outbreak. What is bluetongue disease? It is a non-contagious virus spread by a species of midge and is most commonly seen in the late summer and autumn. All ruminants, such as cattle, goats, deer and sheep, are susceptible, although symptoms are generally most severe in sheep.
Signs of the disease in species vary, but key indicators include a high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the head and neck, lameness and sometimes discolouration of the tongue. According to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in some susceptible breeds of sheep up to 70% of a flock can die from the virus. Animals that survive the disease can suffer long-term damage, such as a reduction in meat and wool production. The virus does not affect humans.
How is it spread? It is passed on by midges. After a midge bites an infected animal, the midge passes the infection on by biting an uninfected animal. Bluetongue cannot be transmitted directly between animals. However, Defra says it cannot rule out transmission of the virus between livestock by unhygienic practices, such as using contaminated surgical equipment or hypodermic needles.
How far can the midges travel? Defra says initial studies have found that a midge can travel approximately 1.5km (1 mile) to 2km (1.2 miles) day. Signs of the disease in species vary, but key indicators include a high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the head and neck, lameness and sometimes discolouration of the tongue. According to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), in some susceptible breeds of sheep up to 70% of a flock can die from the virus. Animals that survive the disease can suffer long-term damage, such as a reduction in meat and wool production. The virus does not affect humans.
Since August 2006, the virus has been found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and northern France. There have also been outbreaks of different strains of the disease in Greece, Italy, Corsica and the Balearic Islands since 1998. Cases have also occurred in Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Yugoslavia. This is the first outbreak of the disease in the UK.
What restrictions are being placed on British farmers? A 20km (12.4 miles) control zone is put in place around affected premises. The zone now includes parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Ruminant animals can move within the zone, but not out of it, except to slaughter in the wider protection zone which now extends approximately 400km (249 miles) from Lincolnshire to Sussex. Farmers within the protection zone cannot transport livestock beyond the zone boundaries.
Can livestock be vaccinated against bluetongue? There are no bluetongue vaccines suitable against the outbreak in northern Europe, according to Defra. However, it said it would consider vaccination if one became available.
SEERAD- Draft Code of Recommodation for Welfare -Goats. SEERAD have produced a draft copy of goat Welfare and have sent this out to all goat clubs. This draft is 45 double sided pages long. All clubs and individuals are invited to response to the draft. The SGF has checked the draft and responded as a club. There are some rather glaring errors in it, ie- kids are goats under 6 months old.
Responses to the draft can be viewed online through the SEERAD website. http://www.Scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/animal-welfare/15760/consultationgoats/GCODEconresp
Goat Legislation.
Goatkeeping is no longer as simple and easy as it used to be. By law we must record certain details. All livestock must be identifiable- either by having an ear tag or ear tattoo. All goats born after July 2006 must have an eartag to identify them. If you have livestock- eg goats, sheep or cattle you must have a registered holding number. Records of any medicine given to animals must also be kept.
All movements must be recorded in an animal movement book and some movements detailed below also need to be notified to SEERAD/DEFRA. Some movements will trigger animal movement standstills on your holding.
Movements-
These will cause no standstill on your or other holding. Taking an animal to a vet and returning. Youngstock if going for ear tattooing/tagging. Males/females moving for breeding purposes- ie to be mated.
Scotland at present has a 13 day standstill in place after movements. If a new animal is entering your herd a standstill must be observed, and a transport form filled in and returned.
Contact Information.
Contacts.
British Goat Society- Ms S Knowles, 34-36 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Devon. TQ13 9AD. Tel: 01626 833168. E-mail: secretary@allgoats.com Website- http://www.allgoats.com/
British Feral Goat Research Group- Scottish Contact- Ms Tracey Livingstone. Group Email: feralgoatuk@yahoo.co.uk For urgent contact- ie news of a Feral goat cull in your area Please phone 07855 914 272.
COBS (Caprine Ovine Breeding Services)- Miss S Smith. Hadspen Diary Goats, Cole, Bruton, Somerset. BA10 0PJ. E-mail: sue@hadspendg.freeserve.co.uk
Dumfries & Galloway Goatkeepers Association- Miss K Wakefield-Richmond. Stable house, St Micheals, Dryfesdale, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire. DG11 2RJ Tel: 01576 203386
Highland Goat Club. Mrs L.Scobie, Fonah Farmhouse, Rescobie, Angus DD8
2SB. Tel 01307 819228
Anglo Nubian Breed Society
British Boer Goat Society Email: peter@harperley.freeserve.co.uk Web site: http://www.britishboergoatsociety.co.uk
British Cashmere Goat Society
English Goat Breeders Association
Harness Goat Society
Pygmy Goat Club Web site: www.pygmygoatclub.org Email: wintoggs@tiscali.co.uk Web site: http://www.toggenburg-breedersociety.com
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