The Animal Health and Plant Agency has issued a notification of planned bluetongue surveillance in cattle.
A survey has been designed to sample cattle in areas which are considered at greatest risk of incursion, due to their relative proximity to the nearest countries to the UK under BTV restrictions. The agency is aiming to recruit at least six farms in each of the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and Dorset, and 12 farms in Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight), Essex and Kent. Sampling is planned to take place from November to December 2022.
Farmcare UK will be contacting farms in these counties, to ask them to participate in the study. Farms scheduled for TB or other farm visits during the BTV survey window will be prioritised, when possible, to reduce inconvenience to farmers.
Private veterinary surgeons already engaged by APHA as part of the Veterinary Delivery Partnership, will visit the farm to collect blood samples from 15 animals and send them to Pirbright, where they will be tested for bluetongue using PCR. The cost of sampling and analysis will be paid for by Defra. Under exceptional circumstances APHA vets may conduct some of the visits.
