Vaccinate livestock plea as bluetongue hits region

Livestock farmers have issued a plea to others across the region to vaccinate their animals against bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) as the first case of a rapidly escalating outbreak of the virus was confirmed in North Yorkshire.

Announcing that there have been 493 cases in the UK in the 2026 to 2027 bluetongue season, Defra officials said 19 new cases of BTV-3 had been confirmed in England on Tuesday, including at an undisclosed site in England’s largest county.

The officials said all the affected animals had been tested following reports of suspicious clinical signs, typical of those seen in recent cases.

Of these, 15 cases involved sheep and 4 involved cattle.

The North Yorkshire case follows a recent confirmation of BTV-3 at a farm in East Yorkshire and comes amid concerns about the risk of further spread from the epicentre of the outbreak in the West Country into the North. On a visit to a Cornish farm last weekend Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to help ease vaccine supply bottlenecks and regulatory delays following demand surging.

Until recently bluetongue vaccination rates have remained low in Yorkshire partly due to perceived risk following less virulent outbreaks and fears about its impacts on fertility side effects.

NFU Livestock Board North Chair and livestock farmer Clare Wise said the past few weeks had been a stark reminder that bluetongue posed “a serious and growing threat”.

Livestock farmer Joe Payne, whose family has run Carr Head Farm on Hunshelf Bank, near Stocksbridge, between Sheffield and Penistone, since 1982, said vaccination is the best protection available.

Mr Payne, NFU West Riding Vice County Chair, said: "I urge farmers to speak to their vets and get their animals vaccinated as quickly as they can. Vaccination is the best and cheapest insurance against this disease. Vaccination is quick, safe and affordable and a much better option than just rolling the dice and hoping you don't get bluetongue on your farm."

Spread by biting midges, bluetongue affects sheep, cattle, goats, deer, alpacas and llamas. While it poses no risk to humans or food safety, it can have severe consequences for livestock, including abortions in cows, temporary infertility in bulls and deformities in newborn calves. The disease is often fatal in sheep. With vaccination rates still estimated to be below 10 per cent of susceptible animals, the NFU is encouraging more farmers to discuss vaccination options with their vets.

Mr Payne is also urging farmers to plan ahead for the potential fertility impacts of the disease. He said: "Going into this winter, I advise farmers to get their animals scanned and fertility test bulls, because if they're unvaccinated and you have got bluetongue circulating you will find empty cows and infertile bulls.

Dr Mandy Nevel, AHDB Head of Animal Health and Welfare, said:

"For many farmers, the current outbreak is no longer a distant concern. It’s happening now, in livestock systems across the country, and we anticipate disease pressure could peak during September."

She said demand for the vaccine had increased significantly as the outbreak had expanded, creating pressure across the supply chain.

Dr Nevel said: "Despite these difficulties, the key message remains clear: It is not too late to vaccinate. As the disease continues to spread at an alarming rate, it's important to assess the risks and consider all the tools available by speaking to a farm vet.”