It is currently quiet when it comes to developments surrounding bluetongue. For now. Because the concerns for the long term are great. Bernd Hietberg is a veterinarian in Beilen, he also notices in his practice that the big crowds are over.
“We do have patients who are still dealing with the aftermath, such as leg problems. But in the last ten days there have only been one or two new cases,” he says.
According to the vet, the colder weather conditions are favorable. “Bluetongue is spread by small mosquitoes, so-called midges, and they become less active in the cold. You notice that we need a period of longer than a week below ten degrees. We are almost at that point now. Then the night frost will top it off. , that is favorable,” says Hietberg.
Thousands of livestock farms or animal keepers have now been affected by bluetongue. Sheep in particular succumb to the virus. But the disease also affects cattle and goats, among others.
The cold takes away the biggest worries for now, but the Beiler vet is not completely reassured about it yet. “Cases in England are increasing and that is worrying. If the disease remains in other countries around us, the virus can soon return here more easily. And the ease with which it spreads also worries me.”
“You also notice that farmers’ concerns have not yet gone away. For example, about what the effect will be. Farmers wonder whether they can have sheep bred. Can sheep become pregnant and what will the effect be on lambs?”
The latter question is also on the minds of sheep breeder Johannes Pieters from Koekange. “Will my lambs be healthy, or will there be deformities?” Of his 69 sheep, nine died from bluetongue. “And I had more sick people, but they made it,” Pieters says.
Even though peace has now returned, the sheep farmer from Koekange is still noticing the effects: “I prefer to have the lambs in February, so we already had the rams with the ewes. But not a single sheep became pregnant. That is the result of bluetongue. The rams are not fertile for about two months due to contamination with bluetongue,” Pieters explains.
“On a second attempt it now seems to have gone well. But it does throw my schedule into disarray, now we won’t have the lambs until mid-April. And we will probably notice that more; not many early lambs next year.”
Livestock farmer Bisschop from Kallenkote is also concerned about the future. He keeps sheep and cows, including in Ruinerwold and Wapserveen. His sheep are not affected by bluetongue, but his cows are.
“The animals ultimately survived well, but I am concerned about what the effect will be. There is a chance that the calves will be rejected. And then I also have concerns about what will happen next year. Will bluetongue come back?”
The farmer from Kallenkote hopes that there will soon be a vaccine for this variant of bluetongue. And sheep breeder Pieters from Koekange agrees. Because what he experienced this year with bluetongue really affected him.
“I am a hobby breeder, I cuddle with my animals. So when you see your sheep suffer like this, it really touches my heart. I have seen my sheep mourn over two rams that were dead in the stable, that really means something to me. you.” Johannes Pieters is happy with the peace that has returned for now: “Fortunately, I now enjoy going to the stable again.”
In the meantime, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is investigating whether midges actually disappear in the winter or whether they still remain in stables. By placing traps, it is investigated to what extent the numbers of these mosquitoes are declining.