"Any newly emerging livestock disease situation inevitably creates confusion among farmers."
The NSA has warned British farmers to remain vigilant to the signs of bluetongue after nearly 50 reported cases were reported within the space of a week.
APHA confirmed new Restriction Zones (RZ) have been implemented in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk to limit the spread of the virus from county to county following 41 incidents of the virus since August 26.
And since November, the UK has recorded a total of 167 cases of the airborne disease on 86 farms.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, said he understands the worry farmers will be feeling at the moment given the current situation.
"Any newly emerging livestock disease situation inevitably creates confusion among farmers over what can and cannot be done," he added.
"The emergence of bluetongue virus in English eastern counties is no different.
"Explaining official controls when things change rapidly is difficult enough, but there is also then the matter of interpreting this into not just ‘what can I do', but ‘what should I do' in relation to business decisions.
"Please be aware that things are changing quickly.
"NSA is trying to keep everyone ‘in the know' but things can change quickly, so please do make the effort to check the information is still up to date.
"There is evidence that the virus is circulating locally here, by midge transmission, and not just being blown over by midges from the continent – so circulating in our own midge population.
"The earlier and smaller Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) have been revoked, and now all of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex have been placed into a larger RZ, with the zone expanding locally to encompass entire holdings.
"The aim of this is to recognise the virus is spreading and there is a desire to try to get ahead of the disease rather than chase it.
"The larger RZ also enables more business as usual to take place in the affected area.
"Although it is important to say that business as usual should not be the aim and the control of this disease will in part be down to individual farmers decisions to be as responsible as possible over moves and avoid moving animals unless it is absolutely necessary."
Mr Stocker said surveillance is now very different to the way it was being conducted last winter where whole flocks of sheep were being blood tested.
"Now, with the exception of tests done on suspected cases most surveillance in sheep is being done visually, looking for clinical signs which, if found, will lead to testing," he adds.
"In cattle, due to less evidence of clinical signs, sentinel numbers of animals are being tested within a programme of targeted surveillance.
"Moves within the RZ, to slaughter and to live can be made without any additional licences to your normal movement licences.
"Stock can also be brought into the RZ from outside the zone without a licence.
"Moves from within the RZ to a designated abattoir outside the zone can be made using a general licence that can be downloaded with the requirements being fully adhered to.
"What cannot take place under a general licence is the movement of any stock from within the RZ to a premises outside of this zone to live – this needs a specific licence that will require approval prior to the move.
"This special licence needs to be applied for, through APHA, and the Government body is currently asking for five days' notice for these licences to be processed, so please plan ahead where possible.
"Animals moved to live in this way will require pre and post movement blood testing.
"Livestock markets are operating in the same way within the same controls, so no moves out of the RZ to a mart outside the zone either for slaughter, breeding or store sales unless they go through a specific licence and are pre movement blood tested (and this is unlikely to be granted)."
The NSA has advised livestock keepers to ensure movement records are up-to-date and accurate.
"The situation will be causing concern for many farmers, creating uncertainty over whether new and expensive breeding stock should be brought into an area at risk, and similarly with store lambs, when compensation for any animals that die, or are put down on welfare grounds is highly unlikely," Mr Stocker says.
"Compensation has been paid to date on animals humanely culled under order by APHA but as the disease has developed, automatic culling on positive cases is no longer taking place.
"In terms of sales off stock off farm, many farmers will be affected and more will become affected as time progresses.
"Selling slaughter stock should be able to go ahead but only direct to abattoirs and to a designated plant, while the selling of breeding and store stock can only practically take place if the entire move is within the RZ.
"Any exceptions will require the specific licence and pre movement testing so only likely for small numbers of high value stock.
"We are hearing of a number of visits following suspicion of disease, where the record keeping regarding movements is ‘appalling'.
"This make any hope of traceability virtually impossible and undermines all industry efforts to be able to present good data in a responsible way.
"We would strongly advise keepers to ensure movement records are up-to-date and accurate, especially on the period since end of July 2024, and would further encourage everyone to make use of the digital service provided by Livestock Information Ltd."
READ NOW: Bluetongue restriction zone widened to Essex after new cases
