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Written by Stephen Baines
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 |
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As with much of Europe, Bluetongue is causing problems to farmers here in Skåne. For us it's causing us some major headaches...
When we got the goats, part of the plan was to breed them each year and borrow a billy from a fellow farmer in Skåne who offered their services. Then bluetongue arrived. First it arrived down the road in Höör, and we had a protection zone around us. Then more and more of Skåne was in the protection zone. Then they announced all animals in Skåne would have to be vaccinated for bluetongue. Then it was farms more than 10 animals. Then the vets started to complain about the process, saying as the vaccine doesn't even last a year doing it now didn't make sense when they'd have to start again in the spring. Long story cut short our female goats are desparate for some male company, but their is a stock movement freeze, so that's put paid to that for the time being. No male goat means no kids, no kids means no kids to sell or eat, and eventually the milk will dry up. Farming can be tough. |
