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Get your free copy23 January 2013, 14:48 PM
- Cases of the Schmallenberg virus are expected to rise in Wales and other parts of the UK, affecting lamb flocks
The livestock chairman of the NFU, Charles Sercombe, lost 40% of his early lambing flock to the virus, prompting him to call on the Government to make sure that a vaccine is available later this year.
The Schmallenberg virus causes birth defects in livestock, and has slowly been infecting English and Welsh farms over the past year.
The increase in cases may affect lamb prices, which are at their lowest level for three years despite costs being pushed due to the extreme weather.
Mr Sercombe said, “We have lost 40% of this Charollais crop. We are getting all sorts – deformed lambs, mummified lambs, twisted necks, fused limbs – it is very unpleasant.
“There is definitely a lot more about this year than last and when it hits a farm like it has ours it is certainly high impact. It is the uncertainty that is causing the real anxiety.”
However, Defra says that the virus is a low-impact disease.
A spokesperson said, “While our surveillance has shown that Schmallenberg has spread across England and Wales, we do not envisage any greater overall national impact this lambing season than we experienced last year.”
