Farming Today

The tiny midge poses a big threat to Britain's farmers. As summer approaches, any Bluetongue infected insects could be blown from the continent and spread the virus by biting livestock, causing lameness, infertility and death in sheep. Farmers are being urged to vaccinate their animals against serotype 8, but many just aren't bothering. As we import infected animals and have no protection from the second threat of serotype 1, are there too many chinks in our armour? Anna Hill investigates.