Show Notes
For this special joint podcast on bluetongue with Catherine Egan from the Beef Edge and Stuart Childs from the Dairy Edge, we’re joined by vet John Donlon to get an insight into bluetongue.
Primarily transmitted via biting midges, the cases on farms in Northern Ireland significantly reinforces the need for awareness on farms in the Republic of Ireland.
Early action, identification and isolation will be key in reducing the potential for further virus spread.
Temperature is a major factor in the transmission of bluetongue. The typical transmission period usually runs from late spring to early autumn, especially during the summer months. During the winter, the risk of disease spread is much lower.
Bluetongue is associated with many symptoms. Typically, in affected cattle and sheep, the main symptoms may include: fever and loss of appetite; drop in milk yield (dairy cows); reddening of mucous membranes; sores on the nose, gums or dental pads; swelling of the face, lips or tongue (‘blue tongue’); breathing difficulties, drooling or nasal/eye discharge; lameness due to inflammation at the top of the hoof; abortion or foetal deformities; and, in severe cases, infection can result in death.
For further info: Teagasc urges vigilance on bluetongue - Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development Authority
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease, meaning anyone who suspects an animal may have the disease is legally obliged to notify DAFM without delay.
To report a suspected case of Bluetongue virus to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), you should immediately contact your local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) or the National Disease Emergency Hotline.
Contact details: · During office hours (9 am - 5 pm): Contact your local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) · Outside office hours (operational 365 days a year): Ring the National Disease Emergency Hotline at 01 492 8026
For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast
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Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us to discuss some key grassland management tips for the month ahead. We look at current grass growth rates on farms and the recovery in areas that were impacted by the drought. We discuss the steps farmers can take now to build grass covers as we move into autumn, including fertiliser application and the opportunity to spread lime. Nikki also discusses managing autumn reseeds and the impact it can have on production next spring. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast