'Get us bluetongue vaccine fast' ISSUES Pedigree beef group adds voice to widespread calls for urgent action on disease.

Byline: By MARK BRITTAIN

THE Pedigree Beef Society Group and partner organisations has backed the National Beef Association's call for the urgent adoption, by Defra, of a UK-wide vaccination programme against BTV8.

The Pedigree Beef Society's Group, the Livestock Auctioneers Association, and the British Camelids have also asked the Chief Vets of England, Wales and Scotland to allow the movement of pre-tested pedigree stock from a protection zone to a free zone, to extend the protection zone to cover the whole of Great Britain, and to make sure that the use of an inactivated, or "dead", BTV vaccine does not result in trade barriers being erected against vaccinated stock.

"There are now at least four organisations publicly calling on the Chief Vets to immediately initiate the development of an inactivated BTV8 vaccine for all five BT susceptible species and the speedy placement of an order with vaccine manufacturers," explained NBA director, Kim Haywood yesterday. "They want to see a compulsory vaccination programme for GB and full government backing for a European Community vaccination policy that covers all member states."

The alliance of pro-vaccination organisations is also keen to see the establishment of animal testing protocols that will free the movement of all breeding stock with superior genetic merit.

"Huge numbers of important pedigree animals are unable to follow established seasonal sales routes within the United Kingdom," said John Fleming chairman of the Pedigree Beef Society Group.

"However the European Commission stock that has blood tested negative against BT to be moved from within a Protection Zone to a Free Zone as long as the same animals is also post-movement tested on arrival on the new farm."

"It is important that these superior animals are moved onto the farms that need them. They have the value to cover the cost of blood testing before departure, and then after arrival on the purchaser's holding, and all that is needed to set these much needed movements in train is comfirmation by the UK's governments of the adoption of existing EU protocols."

The Pedigree Beef Society Group w NBA and other organisations in the group also believe the extension of the current Protection Zone over the whole of GB should not be unnecessarily delayed.

"Science backs the proposition that vaccination is the only protection the farmers have against a disease that will inevitably impose huge cost," Ms Haywood added.

"The Food Standards Agency, and the European Commission, has confirmed BT poses no threat to human beings and cannot be passed on through milk or meat."

"Nevertheless the livestock industry feels the need for a government reassurance that the use of an inactivated BT vaccine will not result in some companies erecting trade barriers against vaccinated animals because they may gain a commercial advantage at the farmer's expense."

Bluetongue came to the UK by infected midges blown from continental Europe, a Defra report confirmed yesterday.

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Conditions affecting Wales

LIVESTOCK in the Bluetongue Protection Zone in England has been cleared for movement from farm or livestock market direct to slaughter in Wales since midnight last Monday, subject to strict conditions, the Welsh Assembly Government announced.

Slaughter of susceptible animals from the Protection Zone can only take place in authorised abattoirs in Wales and movement is subject to strict conditions. Last week the movement direct to slaughter in Wales from collection centres or dedicated slaughter markets in the Protection Zone was announced. No susceptible animals can move to Wales from the Control Zone.

Wales Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christianne Glossop said: "This movement direct to slaughter is being granted subject to very strict conditions. Each person involved in such movements, from the producer to the receiving abattoir must play their part in ensuring that these conditions are followed. Movements will be closely monitored."

Conditions include no stopping during the journey and treating the inside of the animal compartment with a residual insecticide prior to loading.

The licence conditions for movement to Wales are different to those for movement in England and full details are on: www.wales.gov.uk/bluetongue.

CAPTION(S):

The start of the UK bluetongue outbreak at Baylham in Suffolk in September: industry leaders are calling on the government to make development and supply of a vaccine a top priority