- Bluenose affects mood at Thuringian Shepherds' Day
News of cases of bluetongue disease now also in Thuringia has caused concern at the Shepherd's Day. "We informed about it at the event," said Uwe Erl, breeding manager at the Thuringian Sheep Breeders' Association, at the event in the open-air museum Hohenfelden (Weimar region). "The shepherds are all concerned and worried."
In the morning, the Ministry of Health had announced that the animal disease had been detected in one sheep each in the Eichsfeld district and the Nordhausen district. It is not a danger to humans. The ministry assumes that further cases will follow in Thuringia. Neighboring federal states are already affected. The viral disease affects ruminants and is transmitted by biting midges. The ministry recommends vaccinations. The state subsidizes these.
Vaccination has its weaknesses
"Some shepherds have already vaccinated, others are still in the process," said Erl. A problem is that, given the rapid spread of the disease, it takes time for immunity to actually build up after vaccination. "The disease can have dramatic consequences for sheep. Even if they survive, the animals are marked," said Erl.
Moreover, some farms also have lambs born in the summer. However, they cannot be vaccinated until a few weeks after birth. In Erl's opinion, the state should increase the subsidy for vaccination. "On average, a vaccination by the vet costs 8.50 euros." This puts a financial strain on some shepherds, especially since the situation of the businesses is already economically tense. For example, shepherds no longer receive any money for wool, and sometimes they even have to pay for its disposal.
Colorful program all about sheep
Despite the bad news about bluetongue disease, the approximately 2,200 visitors to the Shepherd's Day should have experienced an educational and entertaining day: they could watch sheep being shorn and wool being spun. The program included the Thuringian Shepherds' Championship again. In this, participants compete with their own dogs and a foreign herd in their skills, for example in driving and sorting. This year, Mario Scheffel from the Kyffhäuser district was able to beat his three competitors.
Link to the event
Despite the detection of bluetongue disease in nearby districts, shepherds from The Netherlands were still expected at the Shepherd's Day event. Despite the vaccine's effectiveness, Erl suggested increasing the subsidy to cover the cost, considering the financial strain on some shepherds and the time it takes for immunity to build up after vaccination.
