The Burnham-On-Sea area is now included in the UK’s Blue Tongue protection zone after the restrictions were extended on Monday (May 19th) to cover the whole of Somerset.
Although there have been no cases of Blue Tongue on farms in the Burnham area, the region has been added to the zone as a precuation.
Animals can be moved more freely to other areas within the protection zone, but there are restrictions in place when moving animals to an area outside of the protection zone. Blue Tongue restrictions apply only to ruminants – such as cattle, sheep, goats and camelids – and there are no restrictions on the movement of pigs or horses.
Eirian Williams, Somerset County Council’s Team Leader for Animal Health and Welfare Officer, said: “The change in regulations does not restrict the movement of ruminants within the protection zone. This will benefit farmers within the county as it now allows access to other counties within the protection zone. Animals that have been vaccinated will be able to move outside the protection zone after an agreed time period.”
The new regulations came into place on Monday (19th May) after Somerset received a delivery of 3 million doses of Blue Tongue vaccination. Farmers wishing to access the vaccination doses should contact their local vet.
More information is available on DEFRA’s website or by contacting the County Council’s Animal Health Team on 01823 660050.
Our photo shows cattle grazing on Brean Down, with Brent Knoll in the background
