Norfolk farmers and other stakeholders invited to bluetongue discussion in-person meeting

[Ruminant Health & Welfare]

Norfolk farmers and other stakeholders invited to bluetongue discussion in-person meeting​

A farmer focussed bluetongue meeting is being organised for Monday 15 January by key industry organisations working together to provide support and information for farmers and vets in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ).

Chairing the meeting will be Hugh Broom, NFU East livestock board member, and Dan Phipps, NSA Chairman.

“There are now over 40 confirmed cases of the most recent strain of bluetongue – BTV-3, across Norfolk and Kent TCZs, so this urgent meeting is being held to provide the latest updates for farmers and vets,” explains Mr Broom.

Mr Phipps shares why a collaborative approach is important: “By bringing together representatives and experts across key industry organisations, we hope to help build vital networks within the TCZ in Norfolk.

“Ensuring vital and importantly, up to date BTV-3 information is accurately shared with farmers is dependent on all of the industry experts and stakeholders collaborating,” adds Mr Phipps.

The meeting is being held at Dunston Hall (Dunston Hall Hotel, Norwich, NR14 8PQ) from 7pm to 8.30pm, and will provide an update on bluetongue and important areas such as the new movement licences which permit animals in the TCZs to be moved where there is a welfare need either for slaughter or to a designated abattoir. Advice remains apply early if you think you need a licence.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and hear from a panel of expert speakers.

Responsible for delivering and supporting the meeting are: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), British Meat Processors Association, (BMPA), Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA), National Beef Association (NBA), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Sheep Association (NSA), Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) and Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS).

Further event details and updates will be available here: https://ahdb.org.uk/events/bluetongue-virus-farmer-event

Farmers can call the dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation – call the bluetongue hotline on 024 7771 0386 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

To find full details about animal movements within or around TCZ’s, and a licence application form visit our resources page: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/

A current list of designated abattoirs can be found here.

Further information on clinical signs and resources can be found here: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/



The post Norfolk farmers and other stakeholders invited to bluetongue discussion in-person meeting appeared first on Ruminant Health & Welfare.

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[flywheel]

Who are the stakeholders?

 

[spin cycle]

bit late...twas last monday

Well attended I hear...400 farmers?

some at our mart not very impressed woth restrictions....'load of bollox' said one

 

[Anymulewilldo]

bit late...twas last monday

Well attended I hear...400 farmers?

some at our mart not very impressed woth restrictions....'load of bollox' said one

One of my mates was there, he was saying that if the next stage of control starts then there will be major problems. They’re talking of not letting in lamb ewes that are away on keep go home to lamb.

 

[spin cycle]

One of my mates was there, he was saying that if the next stage of control starts then there will be major problems. They’re talking of not letting in lamb ewes that are away on keep go home to lamb.

get them home sharpish

 

[Suffolksucklers]

One of my mates was there, he was saying that if the next stage of control starts then there will be major problems. They’re talking of not letting in lamb ewes that are away on keep go home to lamb.

get them home sharpish

You already can't move them so you are stuffed really. Head honcho said licences will only be granted for 10-20 miles maximum and definitely not to move them back home out of the zone.

Question was asked if they had planned for April when everyone moves there livestock on to summer grazing licences on marshland. He rather confidently said "oh that's fine you will probably be able to move them to grazing but we aren't sure if you'll be able to bring them back home again"

 

[Anymulewilldo]

You already can't move them so you are stuffed really. Head honcho said licences will only be granted for 10-20 miles maximum and definitely not to move them back home out of the zone.

Question was asked if they had planned for April when everyone moves there livestock on to summer grazing licences on marshland. He rather confidently said "oh that's fine you will probably be able to move them to grazing but we aren't sure if you'll be able to bring them back home again"

Mate said he got the impression it was very much, “We’re doing this and if it doesn’t work for you, well then that’s your problem not ours”
Would that be about right?

 

[Suffolksucklers]

Mate said he got the impression it was very much, “We’re doing this and if it doesn’t work for you, well then that’s your problem not ours”
Would that be about right?

Yes. They seem to have had a real knee jerk reaction to it all and gone totally overboard with it. We are luckily outside the zone but people in it have store cattle stacking up and unable to move them. When asked they wouldn't accept that running out of feed/housing was a welfare issue.

The testing they are doing is ridiculous. At one point they could only do 85 tests a day. It was going to take them 6 weeks just to do one farm. The money they are throwing at it is ridiculous. Paying vets for days work when they don't even have to go in as support staff aren't available.

The cherry on the cake really is they are shooting cattle in Kent but getting the knackermen to come from stoke to do it and take them back with them. Defeats the object of it all surely.

Next autumn will either be a real sh!t show or I have a feeling they will just walk away from it and say it's now here and circulating and you can't do much about it. That's pretty much what they said when taking the Dutch as an example.

 

[Suffolksucklers]

Re the tack sheep. Better be sending the sheep experts down ready to help arable farmers lamb sheep on bare mud fields.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Re the tack sheep. Better be sending the sheep experts down ready to help arable farmers lamb sheep on bare mud fields.

That’s just what he said too!! What about when the arable men want the keep boys to shift the sheep to get the plough in?

 

[Jsmith2211]

The cherry on the cake really is they are shooting cattle in Kent but getting the knackermen to come from stoke to do it and take them back with them. Defeats the object of it all surely.

Is that because all the knackermen between kent and stoke were busy? Or just typical government stupididy?

 

[Suffolksucklers]

Is that because all the knackermen between kent and stoke were busy? Or just typical government stupididy?

Not entirely sure on the reasoning. Just heard this from the valuer.

 

[Arceye]

If I had animals on keep in the areas near the zone I'd want them home sharpish in case it spreads.
With no vaccination on the horizon it could get difficult if the virus spreads when it warms up.
I don't get the "I'm special" attitude of some, if you have animals in the zone they stay there. Why would you want to risk taking the virus all over the country?
The main speaker was very good, some of the questions though were mostly along the lines of how can I wriggle out of the restrictions.
It would be far better to try to get your house in order in case the zone gets extended rather than once you're in.