Fears of Bluetongue as cow imports grow

RECORD numbers of cattle have been imported into Scotland in the first three months of this year, and yesterday this triggered NFU Scotland to warn again of the dangers of bringing Bluetongue into this country.

The figures for January, February and March show more than 300 head of cattle coming to Scotland. This is more than twice the total for all of 2009 and two and a half times for 2008.

More than half this year's imports come from the Netherlands, and although no details are available, it is very likely that they are young dairy stock.

This year, there are also significant importations of cattle from both Germany and the Channel Islands.

Final figures are not yet available for April, but the Scottish Government has confirmed that seven shipments of cattle from Holland and Germany have arrived in south-west Scotland since the start of April.

These were imports carried out under EU rules and the animals, predominantly dairy heifers, have been subject to the required post-movement testing for the disease.

However, NFU Scotland is twitchy about the possibility that cattle will continue to be brought in and that as the weather warms, the chances of importing Bluetongue grows.

Union vice-president Nigel Miller said he did not want to overreact to the level of importations that have already taken place, but livestock farmers should realise "we are now entering the danger period".

"Importing livestock at this time of the year, when the activity of both the Bluetongue virus and the midges responsible for its transmission are highest, is a risk too far.

"For the sake of our industry, I would urge producers to put off import plans from Europe until we reach the low-risk window this coming winter."

Bluetongue, a devastating disease of livestock, has been present in parts of Europe for years, but Scotland has remained clear, thanks in part to a compulsory vaccination campaign in 2009.

There was also a voluntary industry-wide ban on imports of livestock to Scotland from affected parts of Europe.