Bluetongue
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has "communicated the issue of pack size" to vaccine manufacturing companies.
N.Ireland
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has simplified access to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV 3) vaccines.
Sheep
Sheep farmers' reluctance to vaccinate against bluetongue could prove costly, according to Conor Geraghty of the FarmGate Veterinary Group.
Dairy
Ahead of breeding, a number of boosters may be required, as vaccinations play an important role on dairy farms.
Beef
Bluetongue vaccination must be supported as "an additional measure" and not at the expense of core animal health actions the ICSA has warned.
Agri-Business
A farm organisation has called for the bluetongue vaccine option to be included in more schemes.
The INHFA has welcomed that the bluetongue vaccine will be available as an option under the beef and sheep welfare schemes.
Schemes
Bluetongue vaccination will be an option in the 2026 beef and sheep welfare schemes, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon confirmed.
A TD has raised concern around the risk posed by bluetongue to sheep.
Tirlán has said it will pay a total of 41.08c/L for February milk. The processor has also asked farmers to consider bluetongue vaccination.
The IFA has said that the Department of Agriculture will "simplify" some of the procedures around prescribing bluetongue virus vaccines.
Latest figures show the number of confirmed bluetongue cases in GB have risen to 318, in Wales there are 22 cases and no cases in Scotland.
It is advised that vaccination should be completed in animals to protect them against bluetongue prior to the high-risk vector season from May onwards.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is being called on to make bluetongue vaccines available in smaller quantities.
Bluetongue is a "disease we're going to have to learn to live with" in Ireland, according to the DAFM.
Rural Life
The Irish Shows Association (ISA) has issued an update to exhibitors in relation to bluetongue virus ahead of the 2026 show season.
The Department of Agriculture (DAFM) said bluetongue virus has now been confirmed in "multiple cattle herds" in southern and eastern areas.
With bluetongue well and truly in Ireland, farmers must be aware of what dairying alongside the disease will curtail.
The UFU has "cautiously welcomed" the lifting of cross-border livestock movement restrictions, introduced as a result of bluetongue outbreaks.
Farm organisations have welcomed the resumption of north–south livestock movements after bluetongue restrictions were lifted.
The department has been called on to add vaccination for bluetongue virus (BTV) as an action under two key livestock schemes.
“There are encouraging signals that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) may...
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