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Published:
May 20, 2008
Extended
Blue Tongue protection zone now covers Burnham area
The
Burnham-On-Sea area is now included in the UK's Blue Tongue protection
zone after the restrictions were extended on Monday (May 19th)
to cover the whole of Somerset.
Although
there have been no cases of Blue Tongue on farms in the Burnham
area, the region has been added to the zone as a precuation.
 Animals
can be moved more freely to other areas within the protection
zone, but there are restrictions in place when moving animals
to an area outside of the protection zone. Blue Tongue restrictions
apply only to ruminants - such as cattle, sheep, goats and camelids
- and there are no restrictions on the movement of pigs or horses.
Eirian
Williams, Somerset County Council’s Team Leader for Animal
Health and Welfare Officer, said: "The change in regulations
does not restrict the movement of ruminants within the protection
zone. This
will benefit farmers within the county as it now allows access
to other counties within the protection zone. Animals that have
been vaccinated will be able to move outside the protection zone
after an agreed time period."
The
new regulations came into place on Monday (19th May) after Somerset
received a delivery of 3 million doses of Blue Tongue vaccination.
Farmers wishing to access the vaccination doses should contact
their local vet.
More
information is available on DEFRA's website
or by contacting the County Council’s Animal Health Team
on 01823 660050.
Our
photo shows cattle grazing on Brean Down, with Brent Knoll in
the background
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