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Farming crisis: Bluetongue outbreak stresses UK farmers
3 Nov
Summary
- The 2025/26 season saw over 3,472 bluetongue cases since July.
- Farmers face severe emotional distress due to animal deaths and costs.
- No direct treatment exists for bluetongue, impacting animal welfare.
The 2025/26 bluetongue season has been declared the worst on record in Great Britain, leading to a significant animal welfare crisis. Since July, more than 3,472 cases of the virus have been recorded across England, Scotland, and Wales. This surge places farmers under severe emotional pressure and stress, as they grapple with animal deaths, reproductive losses, and increased veterinary costs.
The bluetongue virus, transmitted by biting midges and linked to climate breakdown, causes fever, lesions, and potentially death in livestock like sheep, cattle, and goats. As there is no direct treatment for the disease, veterinary professionals can only offer supportive care, creating a distressing situation for both vets and farmers.
The impact on fertility is also a major concern, with expectations of significantly reduced lamb numbers in the spring, which will have a substantial financial repercussion. Some farmers were deterred from vaccinating due to the vaccine's cost and uncertainty about infection risks, a difficult decision given tight profit margins.
