16th January 2008

National Farmers’ Union members are being given the chance to learn more about bluetongue from some of the world’s leading scientific experts on the virus at a one-day conference organised by the NFU and the Institute of Animal Health.

The conference, on Thursday January 17 at the IAH laboratory at Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, will cover how bluetongue arrived in the country last year, how it spread, the impact of the virus on livestock, vaccination, the control strategy, and what producers can expect in 2008.

 

IAH Director Martin Shirley said: “The Institute for Animal Health was at the forefront of bluetongue diagnosis following its spread to England last year, and will be so this year if the expected re-emergence materialises. During the conference with the NFU we shall be taking a good look at what can be learned from last year’s outbreaks, and what 2008 might hold for UK livestock owners.”

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “This is an excellent opportunity for NFU members from all over the country to ask questions direct to the people who really know the science. This is a new disease for us and livestock producers need to know everything they can about it.”

“The research that goes on at the IAH is essential for the sustainability of the British livestock sectors as we face significant disease challenges. We strongly believe there must be full and lasting commitment from Government to funding science and research for agriculture, such as that at IAH.”