Devon farmers exhausted by bluetongue losses, says council meeting

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 13:32 · Archive

Bluetongue has left Devon farmers exhausted and facing potential losses in the millions of pounds.

Bluetongue virus serotype three has affected livestock in Devon since July. Farmers are losing animals and exhausting themselves caring for sick livestock, with particular concern about the disease's longer-term effects on farm fertility and incomes.

At a meeting of Devon County Council's Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee, farmers and industry representatives described mounting strain on rural families. Stephen Dennis, regional manager for the Farming Community Network, said bluetongue had compounded existing pressures from drought and forage shortages. He warned that the disease could affect the fertility of breeding animals, potentially leading to fewer lambs and calves next year and reducing farm incomes significantly.

Liz Warner, a Devon farmer and representative of the council's Farms Estate, said tenants had faced a succession of challenges over the summer, including using winter feed stocks early due to lack of forage. Bluetongue has added to these difficulties, increasing veterinary and vaccination costs along with fallen stock disposal expenses. Councillors heard calls for urgent financial and wellbeing support. The virus poses no risk to human health or food safety.

How it is being reported

• Devon farmers left exhausted by bluetongue as losses could run into millionsFarmers are losing livestock and exhausting themselves caring for sick animals as bluetongue threatens to leave a lasting hole in their incomes.Exmouth Journal · 13 Oct, 13:00
• Urgent support needed for ‘exhausted’ Devon farmers hit by bluetongueA meeting has heard many Devon farmers are at the brink of exhaustion after battling bluetongue amongst their livestock for the past several monthsNorth Devon Gazette · 13 Oct, 09:37

In this story: Devon · Farming Community Network · Devon County Council · Stephen Dennis · Liz Warner

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