Farmers urged to take up herd jab

Farming officials have today urged Powys farmers to contact their vet so they can purchase the bluetongue vaccine (BTV) as soon as it becomes available.

The vaccine is expected be made available in Wales once the bluetongue surveillance zone is lifted in early summer.

In February Defra officials confirmed movement restrictions for livestock farmers would affect Brecon following positive tests for bluetongue at a farm near Poole in Dorset.

The results have also affected large parts of south east Wales who fall within the 150km boundaries.

The Farmers' Union of Wales' (FUW) is now urging people to register to prevent any further outbreaks.

FUW president Gareth Vaughan of Dolfor, near Newtown, has called on farmers to take full advantage of the opportunity.

He said the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) had decided to supply a further five million doses of BTV across Wales - the country has already secured 2.5 million doses.

Welcoming the news and urging farmers to register, he said: "It is expected that Wales will be declared a Protection Zone early in the summer, at which point the vaccine will be made available for purchase by livestock keepers."

Further advice and information, including detailed questions and answers, can be obtained from the WAG website.