Virus alert as lambing and calving difficulties rise

Herd and flock owners have been warned by the Department of Agriculture to watch for extra lambing and calving difficulties from malformations due to Schmallenberg virus (SBV).

Up to mid-January, 33 clinical cases were confirmed. But reports were increasing of malformed lambs in early lambing flocks in the south east.

The first positive case was in a Co Cork cattle herd in late October. Infection has since been confirmed in foetuses from a further 20 cattle herds and 12 sheep flocks.