November 07, 2025
IVC Evidensia shares the nationwide impact of its bluetongue vaccination programme, as UK vets urge farmers to get their animals vaccinated against the disease throughout autumn and winter 2025.
The east of England in particular has been badly affected by the disease. Last month, the Senedd was also warned that bluetongue posed “a major challenge” to the Welsh farming industry.
The first cases this year were recorded in Wales in late September. Following this, the rural affairs secretary pleaded with farmers to talk to their vet and get their animals vaccinated.
The impassioned plea mirrors renewed calls for the bluetongue vaccine being championed by the whole farm vet profession, who have been on the frontlines of efforts to keep the disease at bay.
Conscious of financial pressures faced by farmers and determined to support them, IVC Evidensia took the decision to make vaccines widely available at the lowest possible cost.
To date, they have seen 400,000 doses of the bluetongue vaccine administered by practices who have been dealing with worrying numbers of cases.
But the concern is that farms will once again be hit hard over the coming months if animals aren’t vaccinated for the first time or get timely boosters.
The midge-borne disease, which affects ruminants and camelids, reached the UK from Europe and it has been a serious issue over the past couple of years.
The east of England was the first to be impacted by bluetongue and the warm, dry weather has exacerbated the spread, making it the worst hit area.
Last year, the first cases of BTV-3 were detected by vets at Three Rivers and Chapelfield Farm Vets in Suffolk, as a result of precautionary blood sampling. Bluetongue cases were reported again earlier this year after concerns raised by a farmer.
“At the start of 2025 we had several months where at least one farmer every day was contacting us worried about having cases,” said Clinical Director Will Stevenson. “Because it hit here first, we were battling it when other areas hadn’t really noticed it yet.”
Sheep more commonly show clinical signs, such as respiratory issues and lameness, while infected cattle are often only detected through surveillance or after having abortions or giving birth to dummy calves.
Calves born this spring already carrying the virus from last year added to the problems faced by farmers.
“On the beef side, we heard from farmers losing a third of their calves,” said Stevenson. “That’s obviously ruinous financially, but many were scarred and upset by the emotional toll of seeing their animals so badly affected.”
Bluetongue vaccines became available in the UK last autumn, and a major vaccination programme was rolled out.
“The vaccines are really effective, and we have administered more than 15,000 doses so far from our practice alone, to both sheep and cattle” said Laura Stephen, Clinical Director at Isle Vet Group in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
“Most diseases can be controlled by some form of bio-security arrangements such as livestock movement, but that’s not the case with a vector-borne disease like bluetongue. So vaccination is absolutely critical.”
By ensuring centralised purchasing and targeted distribution, IVC Evidensia were able to provide adequate stock for all of their clients, as well as support other vet practices facing shortages.
Many vets across IVC Evidensia are also taking a prominent role in attending meetings and seminars to stress the importance of vaccination and the dangers of under-reporting the virus.
“The bluetongue vaccine lasts a year, so farmers that had it done when it was first available around a year ago are coming up for their boosters,” added Stevenson, whose practice has administered over 45,000 vaccinations.
“We’re encouraging them to get that done as a priority, and if they didn’t take it up last year then get it done now as this is when cases mount up.”
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