UK farm groups calls for livestock import suspension to prevent bluetongue spread

Livestock farmers in East Yorkshire are backing the National Farmers' Union (NFU)  call to ban cattle and sheep imports from countries infected with bluetongue to stop the disease from spreading on local livestock.

Union leaders are also urging all livestock farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease.

NFU York East chairman John Gatenby, of Rudston, near Driffield, said although there had been a good response to the vaccination programme, some animals remain unprotected. He said the government should suspend imports to protect the domestic industry.

He said that it is vital every farmer injects their animals before the warmer weather comes, as this is when midges that carry it are most active.

Bluetongue was recently found in dairy cattle imported from France.