November 28, 2012

Veterinary Board suspects bluetongue disease in Estonian cattle

The Veterinary and Food Board suspects the presence of bluetongue disease in one Saaremaa beef cow after the lab tests made in Estonia.

If this is confirmed, the export of Estonian cattle to Turkey and Russia would stop, the local newspaper reported.

Ago Partel, head of the Veterinary and Food Board, told the paper that the case was discovered accidentally, when a cattle breeder was planning to sell cattle into a foreign country, which requires tests concerning bluetongue disease. The basis of the suspicion is primary lab tests made a couple of weeks ago, but by the present the tests have been sent to a reference lab in Great Britain, which has a lot of experience and accurate methods.

Partel said that the results of the analysis would arrive by the end of the week, but added that bluetongue disease had never before discovered in Estonia. Also in this case numerous animals were studied, but he said all other animals were free of the disease.

Tanel Bulitko, head of the Estonian Pedigree Animals Breeding Cooperative, that a positive test would mean a great disaster from the point of view of the export of Estonian cattle.

"This would bring a heavy setback for Estonian animal breeders," Bulitko said, adding that establishment of the bluetongue disease would bring export limitations to third countries and the export of Estonian cattle to Turkey and Russia would stop overnight.