Bluetongue
Vaccinating for bluetongue prior to breeding "can give ultimate protection", according to the Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland.
DAFM has said there is "no evidence" that bluetongue vaccination is associated with birth deformities ahead of higher risk period for virus.
There is likely to be a "greater spread" of bluetongue across the island of Ireland this year compared with last, an expert has warned.
N.Ireland
Newry Show Society has taken the decision not to make the bluetongue vaccination of cattle and sheep a mandatory requirement
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Bluetongue has been now been detected in counties Wexford, Wicklow, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Kildare and Cork according to DAFM.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (Tuesday, April 28) issued a...
DAFM has confirmed that more than "19,000 samples of ruminants" have been tested for bluetongue in 2026 according to latest figures.
Farmers have been advised on when they should vaccinate their herd or flock from bluetongue as midge season approaches.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has "communicated the issue of pack size" to vaccine manufacturing companies.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has simplified access to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV 3) vaccines.
Sheep
Sheep farmers' reluctance to vaccinate against bluetongue could prove costly, according to Conor Geraghty of the FarmGate Veterinary Group.
Dairy
Ahead of breeding, a number of boosters may be required, as vaccinations play an important role on dairy farms.
Beef
Bluetongue vaccination must be supported as "an additional measure" and not at the expense of core animal health actions the ICSA has warned.
Agri-Business
A farm organisation has called for the bluetongue vaccine option to be included in more schemes.
The INHFA has welcomed that the bluetongue vaccine will be available as an option under the beef and sheep welfare schemes.
Schemes
Bluetongue vaccination will be an option in the 2026 beef and sheep welfare schemes, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon confirmed.
A TD has raised concern around the risk posed by bluetongue to sheep.
Tirlán has said it will pay a total of 41.08c/L for February milk. The processor has also asked farmers to consider bluetongue vaccination.
The IFA has said that the Department of Agriculture will "simplify" some of the procedures around prescribing bluetongue virus vaccines.
Latest figures show the number of confirmed bluetongue cases in GB have risen to 318, in Wales there are 22 cases and no cases in Scotland.
It is advised that vaccination should be completed in animals to protect them against bluetongue prior to the high-risk vector season from May onwards.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is being called on to make bluetongue vaccines available in smaller quantities.
