Jab: Campaign for Bluetongue vaccination launched

A new campaign has been launched which urges livestock farmers to consider vaccinating against the threat of Bluetongue.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has joined forces with other organisations concerned with the sector under the Join campaign Against Bluetongue (Jab).

It aims to achieve mass vaccination of at-risk cattle against the disease through a voluntary approach, claiming that “bureaucratic” and compulsory rules enforced by the EU would lead to a slow in the process and business risk for farmers.

Therefore, the organisations’ joint statement read: “Although the programme will be run on a voluntary basis, Jab is now embarking on a major campaign to urge all farmers with susceptible livestock to vaccinate their animals as soon as vaccine is available.”

Last month, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out its vaccination plans in response to the Bluetongue threat.

It agreed that mass vaccination is best achieved through a voluntary approach led by members of the industry.