Current situation
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease affecting sheep, cattle, and other ruminants, spread by biting midges. In England there has been a re-emergence of Bluetongue (BTV3), with 34 cases spread over 10 premises in Norfolk and Suffolk (as of 02/09/2024).
All of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been placed into a larger Restricted Zone (RZ) with the RZ expanding locally to encompass entire holdings and movement restrictions now apply to all ruminants within the zone.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary but can include fever, lesions, redness around the mouth, eyes, and nose, reddening above the hoof, excessive salivation, and nasal discharge. Some animals may show little to no clinical signs.
Bluetongue testing in high-risk counties
Livestock keepers in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and East Sussex can apply for free bluetongue testing for animals to be moved out of these high-risk areas or sold at markets with buyers from outside these counties.
- Apply for free testing at least 10 working days before the planned movement or market date.
- The vet should sample your animals 5 working days before the move or market to ensure timely results.
Contact for free testing
Telephone: 0800 612 5289 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. You can leave a message outside of these hours).
Email: admin@ukfarmcare.com
How Herdwatch can help with movement records:
Register OFF movements in seconds by tapping on the animals you plan to move.
Register ON movements by simply scanning the barcode on the animal passport using the smart bar-code scanner in the Herdwatch app.
Correct data sent promptly compliance is a critical part of a Beef enterprise, therefore it is critical that the correct movement data is sent on time and in a format that is acceptable.
Report death of a registered animal.