With bluetongue well and truly in Ireland, farmers must be aware of what dairying alongside the disease will involve.

The virus is spread by infected midges, meaning once the disease made its way to the island of Ireland last November, prevention would become near impossible.

Now that the days are getting longer, and the weather is improving ever so slightly, midges will begin moving freely, and realistically spreading the disease.

Therefore, dairy farmers and the wider industry must be prepared to farm alongside the disease, and limit its effect if it enters the herd.

Bluetongue

In a recent Tirlán webinar, Joris Somers, head of animal health and welfare for Tirlán; Prof. Conor McAloon, University College Dublin (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine; and Hazell Mullins, veterinary practitioner and dairy farmer, spoke about the impact of the disease on the dairy industry.

Prof. McAloon highlighted that there has been changes in Europe on how the disease is been categorised, where it has been "downgraded in terms of its importance".

However, an 'uncertainty' remains with what could happen in terms of impact from the virus.

Some infected animals in the Netherlands had experienced an array of issues, however the effects were not as severe in the UK. We do not yet know how it will affect Irish herds.

Prof. McAloon said once an animal is bitten by an infected midge, it will take 2-4 days for the disease to start showing through clinical signs.

He said the disease affects the blood vessels, so one of the main clinical signs is a crusted muzzle, as well as oral ulcers in the mouth, drooling saliva, and lameness.

The main concern noted for Irish herds is that when midges are at their peak activity in the late summer, cows are most susceptible to fertility issues such as abortion.

Vaccination

Mullins, along with many other vets, is recommending to vaccinate the herd against the disease, with vaccines only available for the current strain in Ireland - bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV-3).

The Co. Cork-based vet and farmer is planning to vaccinate her own herd around St. Patrick's Day, followed by the second dose three weeks later.

She highlighted that the vaccine is currently commercially available from local vets, but noted how there is a "bit more paperwork involved" as it has been brought in on a "special licence".

Farmers will need to specify which animals on the farm are being vaccinated and report it to DAFM.

Mullins said: "It is something that is very doable if you are in the thought process of vaccinating; it's not something that's got huge barriers to it."

Farmers are being reminded that the vaccine does not protect their animals against infection, but it will limit the clinical impact of the virus.

However farmers must do their own cost analysis before deciding to vaccinate, as the cost of vaccinating has a 'ball park figure' of €10/cow when including both shots, which quickly adds up.

If your herd does not get bluetongue after paying for a vaccine, farmers will feel agrieved.

But on the flip side, if the herd does contract the virus, issues such reduced milk production, infertility, dummy calves, congenital defects, lameness and more, will have a huge financial affect on the farm.

McAloon said: "Vaccination is the only sort of evidence based mitigation factor that we have".

Enhanced biosecurity measures or pour-on insect repellents can not act as a barrier to the virus.

Thankfully, the virus is not zoonotic, meaning farms that do contract bluetongue can continue to have their milk processed and animals slaughtered, as there is no food safety risk.