Blue Tongue

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:01 am

Welcome aboard welshdexterboy, nice to have someone new on the forum. I only joined about a year ago and have learned from here more than anywhere.

We're now in BT zone as well. Loads of gnats around last night even though we're on top of a big hill.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:44 am

We've had our first decent frost last night. Lets hope for a lot more.

Colin

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:53 am

There was nice WHITE frost here too. I have NEVER been SOoooo pleased :D :D :D to see it!!!

Stephanie

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:53 pm

We have had two white mornings now, but the flying army is about when the sunshine appears. With all these new cases of BT are they still culling the animals as a precaution? I simply cannot understand why they have set up these zones and regulations as there is no way to stop mossy movement. With FMD I kept my fingers crossed and felt fairly at ease, but with BT I feel that it is only a matter of time before its at my doorstep so to speak.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:04 am

I believe only the first 5 animals were culled, not the rest as BT does not spread from animal to animal.

Colin

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:47 am

Now I am nervous. BT has been discovered in Ide Hill, which is just a few miles down the hill from us.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 6:59 am

We're also on the deg of but within a dirty zone. I had to cancel a full load going to the abattoir who said if I'd gone my trailer wuld have been confiscated, because the abattoir is not in a dirty zone.

They also said that I could take the trailer to a red market in my dirty zone, DEFRA reps wold clean my trailer, reload the trailer and then I could go to the same abattoir!!!!!!! But I ddn't.

Midges are going up the A19...they must have satnav.

ann · Post by **ann** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:09 pm

Lets hope they don't fancy a trip on the moors railway line and stay the other side of the A19, sorry Penny, we are still o.k at this moment in time. My query is however has anyone used the Garlic Mineral licks this year, originally they where marketed to help keep the flies away, and my local suppleir didn't stock them, however when I called today they had some in. Although we have had some mild weather here latley, fortunetly I haven't seen any midges and our area is still in the clear, so far, but at the end of the day it would probably be much better if they just declared all of england at risk and stopped making life so difficult for so many people.

JMHO Ann:(

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:58 am

Not really about bluetongue, but has anyone else noticed that Debby Reynolds seems to have disappeared,any ideas just for a little light relief in these frought times. Sue

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:27 pm

Merial got their licence back today to use FMD and BT viruses for vaccine production. So some good news here. I'm sure we're going to need a lot of BT vaccine next year when it becomes available.

Colin

moomin · Post by **moomin** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:19 am

I am feeding Garlick licks, Crystalix make them.
The farm smells like a French fishing port! There is a withdrawal period before slaughter so you don't get garlic flavoured beef.
Some of my cows are grazing right over the white cliffs of Dover - so far OK. Sheep are OK as well.
The treatment for BT is an anti-inflammatory such as Ketofen and an antibiotic such as Terramycin for secondary infection if needed. Most animals recover. There is no compusory slaughter. It is more of a welfare issue.
There is a very good article in the Ark which I am sure RBST members will have read. It seems to me to be comparable to a dose of human flu - some people get it badly, others don't.
It will be interesting to see if our tough little Dexters with their wide genetic diversity shrug it off. I think we will just have to learn to live with it. Don't be to downhearted,it is not as bad as foot and mouth or TB. Just be costly - good business for drug companies though.
Di

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:48 pm

Our 21 yr.old Dulcie,has a couple of Ecinacea tablets each week,they will aid the immune system helping her to fight any infection,(Im sure some Vets will disagree) our Vet has trained in Homeopathy as well as conventional treatment and is in favour,If you only have one or two Dexters this is ok ,but with a large herd not practical,perhaps an Ecinacea lick would be the answer.(we give Dulcie ecinacea 200,1 wed 1 sat) Sue

carole · Post by **carole** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:17 pm

Di I have a friend who accidentally forgot about the withdrawal period for garlic lick could you (or someone) let me know what that period is and I will pass on the information. Not a major problem as beef was for own consumption. I will be sure to let you know how it tastes!

carole · Post by **carole** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:18 pm

Sorry that last comment should have read 'my friend will let you know how it tastes'???

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:09 pm

I also use the garlic licks that Di uses. The cattle smell fantastic, although to be quite honest I am not sure how well it has repelled the flies.
The withdrawral for meat is 28 days.
Penny