Schmallenberg in Ireland was not unexpected

The Department of Agriculture should issue appropriate advice to farmers on how to minimise the risk of Schmallenberg Virus infection, said ICMSA beef and cattle committee chairman Michael Guinan after this week’s announcement that the virus was detected in samples from a bovine foetus submitted for post-mortem examination from a Co Cork farm.

Mr Guinan said that where farmers have a problem, appropriate assistance should be given to resolve difficulties as soon as possible, and to minimise losses.

The virus is primarily transmitted by midges and mosquitoes, which are active from April to November in Ireland. Abortions and malformed offspring will be seen from early spring onwards in spring calving or lambing herds and flocks.