NOTICEBOARD:

Bluetongue – Important Advice for Members Selling Sheep

Bluetongue (BTV‑3) continues to spread across parts of the UK, and national veterinary bodies are urging both buyers and sellers to take extra care when moving stock. The Society encourages all members to act responsibly and to help protect the health of Shetland flocks across the country.

Key points for anyone selling sheep:

Be open and transparent with buyers about the vaccination status of your sheep and any recent veterinary observations.

Avoid selling unvaccinated animals unless absolutely necessary. Animals can appear healthy while incubating the virus.

If selling unvaccinated stock, advise buyers to quarantine new arrivals well away from their main flock for several weeks.

Movement rules vary by destination, particularly for sheep travelling into Scotland. Please ensure buyers understand any licence or testing requirements.

Vaccination is strongly encouraged, but immunity takes time to develop. Animals vaccinated within the last 28 days may still be vulnerable. WE appreciate stocks are hard to come by at the moment.

Remind buyers that Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and any suspicious signs must be reported to APHA without delay.

The Society appreciates the care and responsibility shown by members during this period. By working together and sharing clear information, we can help reduce the risk of further spread and safeguard the breed we all value.