Scottish farmers advised to be prepared

Scottish farmers have been warned to be prepared as the number of animals infected with Schmallenberg virus (SBV) grows.

Despite no cases having been found in Scotland so far,  NFU Scotland has re-issued its call for farmer vigilance, after SBV was found on a Northern Ireland cattle farm last week.

NFUS president Nigel Miller said: "SBV is not a notifiable disease and although we have helped to put some surveillance in place, it is far from extensive. I think we have to prepare for the fact that the picture in Scotland can be expected to be worse than the tests reveal."

Post-movement testing has showed animals have moved into Scotland that had previously been exposed to the disease.

Mr Miller continued: "Testing has been limited but finding a number of positive animals in Scotland highlights the probability that greater number of animals that have been exposed to the disease have been brought in.

"That increases the possibility that infectious animals may be amongst those imports."

Experts say the impact of SBV on Scotland would depend on where the disease is, when it arrived and the temperature limits at which the disease can replicate within midges.