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Livestock breeders specializing in selling breeding animals are facing financial difficulties due to ongoing bluetongue restrictions. Typically, late summer and autumn are seasons when sheep farmers buy and sell breeding replacements. However, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) restrictions due to the BTV-3 outbreak are causing challenges for both buyers and sellers of breeding sheep and cattle.

Sheep farmer Frank Langrish from East Sussex highlighted the losses faced by those in the Restricted Zone (RZ) due to Apha restrictions, despite the absence of clinical cases compared to surveillance tests. Phil Stocker, CEO of the National Sheep Association (NSA), noted that farmers selling breeding rams are significantly impacted by the rules. The requirement for pre-movement and post-movement blood testing for animals within the RZ has made it difficult for farmers to sell livestock, especially as livestock markets are still unable to operate.

In addition to ram breeders, farmers specializing in selling female breeding stock are also affected. Selling breeding animals to Wales and Scotland is even more challenging as these nations do not accept livestock directly from the RZ. With a decline in BTV-3 cases and the onset of a lower vector period, Stocker suggests reconsidering some of the control measures.

Discussions on proportionate controls and the potential for an exit strategy from current bluetongue restrictions are planned between stakeholders, Apha, and Defra. While progress has been made in licensing procedures for green markets outside the RZ, implementation remains uncertain. The industry, including auctioneers, is awaiting clarity on how these procedures will function.

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