The status of bluetongue in Great Britain is continuously changing. Our guide is intended to be used alongside our essential information page, which includes latest news and the current situation.
You can also check for the latest updates on the government's websites:
- GOV.UK | Bluetongue: news, information and guidance for livestock keepers
- APHA | Interactive bluetongue virus map
Remember:
B – beware when buying animals
T – take action if you spot the signs of bluetongue in your animals
V – always remain vigilant
Government policies may change and differ depending on epidemiological investigations and specialist advice from the government’s Expert Group.
It is essential that you remain up to date with published information:
Initial considerations
Could you cope with extended periods of time when your animals are separate from your main holding, or unable to move due to any restrictions in control zones?
Here are some initial points to consider:
- If your animals spend time away from your main holding, can they be looked after, or handled appropriately?
- Can you provide enough feed/water/shelter for an extended period?
- Will you come under pressure from a landowner to move the animals off at any point?
- Speak to your usual market or abattoir and make sure that they are fully aware of the risks of BTV restrictions – what contingency plans might they follow?
- Talk to your bank or financial adviser about any financial risks to your business in advance of any cashflow pressures which may result from BTV restrictions.
- Make sure your on-farm records and paperwork are up to date and accessible.
- Alert any staff or stock people to the clinical signs of BTV so that they know what to look out for.
Where bluetongue virus is circulating in the midge population, the CVO (Chief Veterinary Officer) is likely to put restriction zones in place. The movement of ruminants, camelids and germinal products (semen, embryos and ova) onto or off a bluetongue restricted premises will be prohibited, unless under licence issued by a VI (Veterinary Inspector) from the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). This can be either a general licence available to download on GOV.UK, or a specific licence, which you must apply for through the licensing portal.
You need to plan accordingly and apply for the licence at least five days in advance prior to the scheduled move. Be aware that in some circumstances, especially when moving animals to live (e.g. higher to lower risk zone if permissible) testing may be required, so factor that extra time and management resource in.
Free testing
Free testing is available in high risk counties (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex) for movements to live outside these counties. You can book free testing (and free sampling) by contacting Farmcare:
Telephone: 0800 612 5289 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can leave a message out of hours.)
Email: [email protected]
You should apply for free testing at least 10 working days before the planned movement or market date and the vet should sample your animals five working days before the move or market to allow time to get your results. APHA will email the results to you or your private vet – this will usually be three working days after they receive your samples, but you should allow up to five working days. During BTV busy periods, there may be a delay.
If you are in a TCZ (Temporary Control Zone) or RZ (Restricted Zone) and require testing as condition of your licence, you can also request free sampling via a Farmcare vet, or use your private veterinary surgeon at your cost.
Movements to slaughter don’t require testing for BTV.
If your premises spans across different zones, in most circumstances the rules for the higher risk zone applies.
Applying for a licence
You can apply for a specific movement licence at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: apply for a specific movement licence.
The current situation regarding movement licencing can be found in our essential guide to Bluetongue: Movement licencing | Bluetongue – the latest information
Licence considerations
The VI risk assessing your application will consider the location of the origin and destination, surveillance outcomes, health status of the animals and any welfare implications. Make sure they are all clearly stated on the application form. If the move is likely to be repeated, and there are multiple use licences available for it, you need to state that, too.
Types of movement
Temporary land associations
Any land and buildings that are being used to temporarily hold livestock away from their main holding must be correctly registered and linked to the relevant CPH.
To do this, you must apply for either:
- A TLA (Temporary land association), if the animals are within 10 miles of your CPH (county parish holding) number’s main livestock gathering area
- A tCPH (Temporary county parish holding) number, if the animals are more than 10 miles from your main livestock gathering area.
Registering temporary holdings is essential so that the government knows where livestock are kept and can trace them to help contain disease. This is even more important if applying for a bluetongue movement licence.
APHA advises that some movement licence applications within the bluetongue temporary control zones have been delayed as the land grazed was not correctly linked to the relevant CPH. This must be corrected before a movement licence can be issued.
Full guidance on applying for TLAs and tCPHs can be found at: GOV.UK | Get a temporary land association (TLA) or temporary county parish holding (tCPH) number
Keeping livestock: registration, identifiers and movement recording
Farm to/from TLA (temporary land association) or tCPH (temporary county parish holding)
Make sure any additional land you are using is correctly registered with the RPA (Rural Payments Agency) and APHA. Incorrect registration can slow down processing licence applications.
Full guidance on applying for TLAs and tCPHs can be found at: GOV.UK | Get a temporary land association (TLA) or temporary county parish holding (tCPH) number
Farm to farm
For information on licensing requirements, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue movement licences and designated slaughterhouses
Commons
There is no particular licence to move animals on/off the common grazing land. The government will take into account the natural land features when declaring the restrictions zone, so it is very likely that any common land will be included within the specific restriction zone within which animals can move, unless subject to specific restrictions.
Sales through market
Markets may continue to operate within the zones. Animals will be able to move within the zone, however movement out of the restrictions zone are currently prohibited unless subject to the licenses issued by APHA (testing is required).
Slaughter
Abattoirs located outside the restriction zones that slaughter ruminants from the restriction zones must be designated. The abattoirs within the restriction zones don’t need designation.
Arrival and slaughtering times at the abattoirs may be different to the usual times, so it is important that you arrange and confirm it with the FBO (Food Business Operator). The arrival time in most cases, corresponding to hours of peak midge activity, is one hour after sunrise and no later than two hours before sunset.
There are several general licences for movements to slaughter available via GOV.UK. Please check carefully which ones apply to you. A copy should accompany any animals moved under general license.
A list of the designated abattoirs is updated regularly and can be found at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: apply for a specific movement licence
TB reactors
If you have TB reactors, a 10 day reactor removal time applies and the abattoir must be designated for the BTV. APHA will arrange the required licences, slaughter of the reactors and compensation.
Shows inside bluetongue zones
Susceptible animals can move freely within restricted zones to attend and return from shows in the same restricted zone.
Susceptible animals entering restricted zones from the free area to attend shows will not be licensed to leave the zone following the show unless they meet the exit criteria as listed on the specific licence for that zone and would require PrMT (Pre-Movement Testing).
Shows outside bluetongue zones
Susceptible animals may be licensed to leave bluetongue zones to attend shows, depending on the disease situation. These licences will include pre-movement testing requirements and animals will likely be placed under restriction when they return to the premises of origin.
Using insecticides
In transport vehicles
Animals must be protected against attacks by the vectors during transportation to the destination.
Insecticides must be effective against flying insects, specifically midges (culicoides) and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Overuse can cause development of resistance in midge populations.
The active ingredients pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroids are reported to be effective.
Insecticides must be authorised and approved for use as biocidal products in the UK by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), either under:
- Control of Pesticides Regulations (HSE) approved biocidal products
- Biocidal Products Regulations (HSE) approved biocidal products
On animals
Synthetic pyrethroid (e.g. deltamethrin)-based pour-on insecticidal products are approved in the UK for use on cattle and sheep against some biting flies and lice. They have not been proven to have a direct impact on BTV transmission but may reduce the biting pressure on an animal, although this effect will be temporary (only a few days).
The use of the insecticides on animals must be noted within medicine records and the withdrawal periods for milk (if present) and meat observed. The withdrawals vary among the products but are, on average, within range of 35 days for sheep and 20-17 days for cattle.
Consult your PVS (Private Veterinary Surgeon) for advice. For a list of authorised products visit:
Breeding of livestock
You can move germinal products intended for fresh transfer between premises within the same TCZ or RZ without testing or licence, providing the donor animal doesn’t show clinical signs of bluetongue.
Movements of germinal products out of a zone intended for fresh transfer is prohibited.
Any germinal product intended for freezing and storage must comply with the requirements of a licence and testing of donor animals. The protocols for testing can be found at: GOV.UK | Restrictions on germinal product from bluetongue-susceptible animals
All sites where germinal product collection, processing or storage take place within a BTV zone, and those to which germinal product are licensed, will require designation.
The movement of livestock for breeding (e.g. bull hiring) is subject to licensing requirements described above.
Plan accordingly, especially if you usually rely on livestock movements. Consider sourcing breeding stock within the restriction zone or using AI (Artificial Insemination) when appropriate.
Consider taking semen from your own bulls or tups for home use. The BTV virus can remain active in semen for a long time so there is an increased risk of onward infection from semen.
Biosecurity
Vector control can decrease the risk of establishing disease in the local midge population. The culicoides midges that carry the bluetongue virus usually breed on animal dung and moist soils, either bare or covered in short grass.
Plan in advance which biosecurity methods are practical for your holding and can be deployed. Plan ahead to buy supplies as those may be high in demand if disease continues to spread.
Limit breeding sites for vectors. Ensure there is frequent, at least weekly, dung and manure removal. Spraying the manure with the insecticide has no impact on the midge population and may just create environmental contamination.
Dry up breeding areas by mending leaks and filling in or draining damp areas.
Disposal of afterbirth. Prevent your pets from eating, chewing on or playing with potentially infective material, such as aborted material or afterbirth, as there is evidence dogs and other carnivores may become infected.
TB testing – mechanical transmission of BTV via tuberculin intradermal (‘skin’) testing of cattle and other species is considered to be very rare and of no significance for the further secondary spread.
Additionally, OVs (Official Veterinarians) and ATT (Approved Tuberculin Testers) are required to ensure that tuberculin needles are wiped between the animals with cotton wool moistened with surgical spirit and any needles contaminated with blood or other material are changed.
Statutory TB testing programme continues as normal.
Sheep shearing and hoof trimming – transmission of this virus within and between herds and flocks by contaminated equipment, clothing and unhygienic practices is very unlikely but cannot be totally excluded.
Shearers and hoof trimmers should ensure good biosecurity practices as a preventive measure to protect animals not only from BTV but other diseases that can be present in the flock or herd, such as caseous lymphadenitis, orf, pink eye or foot rot or digital dermatitis in cattle.
For more advice on shearing, visit:
- National Sheep Association | Practical considerations for best practice during shearing in the UK
- nacft.co.uk | The National Association of Cattle Hoof Trimmers
Trade
Trade restrictions imposed by the importing authority, for movement of live ruminants and germinal products are in place until country/regional freedom from the disease is confirmed. It can take up to two years to demonstrate and declare country freedom.
The government may in the future apply for the regionalisation or renegotiating of the opening of the trade market again, but it is possible that additional checks or testing will be needed. It will be reflected in the in the attestations contained within export health certificate.
Movements to Northern Ireland of susceptible livestock from GB are also stopped at present. Movements of germplasm are subject to appropriate restriction and your export certifying OV is best placed to provide advice on the export guarantees that must be met.
Meat, edible co-products and animal by products are not affected, however exporting OV will be able to advise accordingly based on requirements of the particular EHC, which can be found at: GOV.UK | Find an export health certificate.
The latest information on availability of export health certificates for different commodities can be found at: GOV.UK | Get an export health certificate
Vaccination
Defra’s Secretary of State has permitted the use of three bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the United Kingdom, subject to licence.
Available licences will either be geographically targeted general licences, or specific licences which can be applied for through APHA. General licencing will be subject to risk assessment.
Unlike other BTV vaccines, the currently available BTV-3 vaccines are suppressive, not preventative. This means that they will not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, although they may reduce the clinical signs experienced. For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals.
Contact your private veterinarian if you want to use any of the available BTV-3 vaccines. Vaccines available for other serotypes do not give cross-protection for the BTV-3 serotype.
Information on permits, including vaccines can be found at: GOV.UK | BTV-3 vaccine permits.
The general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England can be found at: GOV.UK | General licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.
The NFU will keep members updated about this online and through our regional and sector communication channels.
Surveillance
APHA may request to carry out a surveillance visit on your holding, which will include:
- Checking records (production records, milking records when applicable, fertility, mortality, medicine and movements)
- Inspection of susceptible animals and taking blood samples from cattle that are at least six months old, not vaccinated for BTV and resident at the holding for at least a month. At present, at each of the selected holdings 35 animals will be sampled, but the surveillance strategy is frequently reviewed and may change in the future.
Please ensure you can fully assist Veterinary Inspector as that would enable them to facilitate lifting restrictions from your holding in the future.
Tracings
A tracing exercise is be carried out by APHA for susceptible stock that moved on and off the premises in the 60 days prior to the first identified infected case (unless epidemiological assessment prescribes a longer or shorter period).
The identified holdings are contacted and the Veterinary Inspector will carry out the visit and follow a similar protocol as listed above under surveillance visit.
Suspicion and investigation
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease – if you suspect bluetongue you must report it. Details for reporting suspected cases can be found at: GOV.UK | Reporting suspected bluetongue
Further information on clinical signs can be found at: ruminanthw.org.uk | Bluetongue virus FAQs
The Veterinary Inspector who carries out the investigation will enquire about:
- all animals, by species, clinically affected, dead and clinically normal
- veterinary history of the herd, including medicine use
- movements of BTV-susceptible animals onto, and off, the suspect premises in the previous 60 days and contact premises
- possible midge breeding sites
- they will inspect the herd/flock and examine chosen animals
- they may require to take blood samples
Culling may be used in circumstances where the disease is not circulating in the midge population to prevent the wider spread outbreak. Once BTV is known to be circulating in the domestic midge population, culling of livestock is not an effective control measure.
If your animal/s were required to be culled to control bluetongue disease then you would receive compensation at market value for that animal (unless you had imported diseased animals in which case there would be no compensation).
There is no specific C&D protocol post culling, but you should consider any procedures to enable removal of the manure, bedding and any other material that is suitable vector habitat.
If animals display clinical signs of bluetongue but culling is not required, further treatment will be likely. Contact your PVS (Private Veterinary Surgeon) in this instance. There are no specific antiviral drugs available, and therapy includes nursing care and medicines to reduce clinical signs, though early euthanasia decisions need to be considered on animal welfare grounds.
Fallen stock removal
There are no restrictions on the movements of fallen stock to the knacker's yards or disposal sites.
More bluetongue content from NFUonline:
Watch again: Bluetongue update featuring the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer
