Bluetongue on the spread

In describing last weekend's visit to the Wiltshire Horn Society show and sale with a friend, I mentioned in passing recent concerns about Bluetongue disease, particularly in East Anglia much of which had been placed under a restriction Zone. The very next day after the sale one of my friend's sheep began to display indicative symptoms. A DEFRA vet visited (its a notifiable disease) and Bluetongue disease was subsequently confirmed, and in this case the sheep in question died later in the week. 

With further cases being reported the Restriction Zone has now been extended to include all of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Greater London, Surrey and East Sussex.

Although Bluetongue disease can affect all ruminants, sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs  than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:

• ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
• discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
• swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)

The Bluetongue virus is transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides  and not normally from direct contact with infected animals. There are different strains of the virus which vary in their potential seriousness. Peak midge populations occur during the late summer and autumn in Europe and therefore this is the time when Bluetongue is most commonly seen.  The midges can be carried very large distances on the wind (over 200km) and this has been the primary way Bluetongue is introduced into new areas. It was once largely confined to tropical and sub-tropical areas but climate change has made it an increasing problem in temperate regions.

Our vet has offered a vaccine which although might not prevent the disease can mitigate symptoms. Otherwwise all that can be done is remain vigilant and hope for the weather to change so it is less conducive to midges. 

Our ewes today with a one of the 'accidental'
July born lambs to the left. 
All look healthy.

Wiltshire Horn Sheep premier show and sale

Saturday last I had a rare day away from the smallholding to attend the Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society show and sale at Stoneleigh livestock market near Rugby. I went with a friend who lives near to us and who also keeps Wiltshire Horn sheep. He had planned to take some sheep to the sale but Suffolk, and also now much of the eastern counties of England, is designated a Restriction Zone because of recent cases of Blue Tongue disease which affects ruminants. Its now a big problem for sheep and cattle farmers who are in the Restriction Zones as it is currently illegal to move livestock to a non-restricted area with only a few exceptions to the rule.

Anyhow, the show and subsequent sale went off well and there were some good examples of Wiltshire Horn sheep on show. The prize winning sheep were sold at the higher prices as might be expected. The winning bid for the top ewe was 650 guineas.  

Co-incidentally, DEFRA last week designated the Wiltshire Horn a Breed At Risk. This means it is a rare breed that is vulnerable to disappear. This would be a particular shame given that it is a primitive breed of sheep thought to have been the original sheep breed introduced to Britain by the Romans. 

Once common, Wiltshire Horns are not a breed that commercial sheep farmers nowadays keep. They are noted for being self-shedding so their fleece is not very suitable for wool production. They are an excellent meat breed but take longer to grow for the commercial market. The survival of the Wiltshire Horn breed relies on smallholders and small scale farmers to keep the breed going.

First placed ewe lamb