What is Bluetongue?
Bluetongue is an animal disease spread by two types of
midges.
It does not affect humans and does not affect the food
chain.
Unlike other animal diseases like foot and mouth, because it is
spread by midge bites it is not spread directly from animal to
animal across a herd.
It is a disease of ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer,
camelids (eg llamas) and goats.
What does this mean for livestock owners in Suffolk?
Suffolk County Council enforces the Bluetongue restrictions
through its Trading Standards department.
In an outbreak situation, local farmers and livestock owners
should be aware that:
- Pig movements will be permitted to move within out of this
areas to any area, subject to licence conditions and within
specific ‘pyramids’, that is, - breeding farms, weaning farms and
fattening farms
- No ruminants can be moved from farm-to-farm.
- Calving cows and other welfare moves may take place up to 3km
within the same premises.
- No ruminants can be moved out of the area. The only exception
would be direct to slaughter in Essex.
- Direct moves to slaughter may only take place in Norfolk and
Suffolk and Essex. Moves must not place after one hour before
sunset when the midges are most active.
- There must be no collection centres or dedicated slaughter
sales in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Information on current Bluetongue outbreak