Bluetongue risk spurs call for vaccine support in next budget
The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has called for specific funding in Budget 2027 to address the increasing risk posed from bluetongue.
The call comes as 630 cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) have been confirmed to date in the UK in the current bluetongue season.
INHFA president Pheilim Molloy said that the ongoing spread of bluetongue across Britain is "a risk that we must recognise and prepare for".
"While the number of outbreaks in Ireland remains low, the concern is that we could be on a similar trajectory to many parts of Britain, that following sporadic outbreaks in 2025, has this year seen a significant increase in the number of outbreaks.
"With a vaccine available for the dominant strain, some farmers in Ireland have already started to vaccinate stock.
"However, where this is happening it has been mainly confined to their breeding stock," he said.
Vaccine
The INHFA president said that as we look ahead to next year and the increasing risk of higher infection levels "there is no doubt that more farmers will want to vaccinate, especially with sheep where mortality rates could reach 30% or higher".
"However, for farmers that are looking at the vaccine option the cost will be a major factor.
"For sheep the cost of the vaccine (single dose) is around €4 per animal while for cattle (that requires two doses) the cost will come to €8 each.
"This will be very expensive especially as farmers will need to vaccinate all their stock to ensure protection.
"The cost to a lowland sheep farmer with a flock of 100 ewes, 20 replacement hogget’s and 150 lambs will be €1,200, while a hill farmer with 100 ewes, 20 hogget’s and 100 lambs will have a cost of €1,000," he said.
Molloy said that for "a sizable portion" of sheep farmers, particularly those with cattle, the costs "could well be prohibitive".
"This is why we are calling on the government to ensure new and additional funding is available to offset these vaccination costs.
"Funding for this must be available for early spring and whether it comes in the form of direct support to farmers or through a subsidy on the vaccine is something that we are happy to discuss with the minister.
"The upcoming budget provides the opportunity to prioritise funding for this and we will be making a request to Minister Heydon in writing on this," he added.
Bluetongue
The first case of BTV-3 in Ireland was confirmed in a suckler herd in Co. Wexford in January.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) said the likely source of the incursion of the disease in the country was by infected midges blown across the Irish sea in late Autumn 2025.
To date, surveillance has identified BTV-3 in additional herds in counties Wexford, Wicklow, Louth, Laois, Monaghan, Kildare, Cork, and Tipperary.Investigations indicate these cases are historic from last Autumn.
Vaccination against the bluetongue is included as an optional action in both the 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS)
