Focus on livestock and exhibitions

The Canillo and Encamp herds are already protected against bluetongue. He has already received two doses of the vaccine and this morning, in addition, he has received protection against IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, caused by the bovine herpes virus, which, among “other symptoms”, can also cause abortions and reproductive difficulties), which is given every six months. There are 285 cattle in total. In Ordino, the cattle have also already received at least the first dose of the bluetongue vaccine (the parish cattle breeders’ committee agreed to start vaccinations on August 11), should receive the second dose next week, and the vaccination of Lauredian cattle is planned to start on Thursday. The herd in the Plan de l’Ingla. For sheep, things are faster, as they are more susceptible to the disease and therefore are a priority, and, moreover, they only need one dose. As a result, the head of the animal health surveillance area of ​​the Ministry of Agriculture said that most livestock sheds are protected until next year, when cattle and sheep must be given new doses of the government’s livestock Sònia Abad after vaccinating the Canilla herd in Solana del Forn, in Soldeu.

For livestock farmers and government veterinarians in charge of vaccinating all animals, the bluetongue vaccination means more work than usual in the summer. Abad said that normally, diseases, births and other ailments that require veterinary support are more in the winter, and that, for example, the Canillo herd has gone through the hose (fenced corridors through which cattle pass to receive vaccinations and other care) up to 3 times, since their vaccination program includes IBR in the summer, while others have already done it twice before the end of September. But rancher Tony Lopez said that in addition to demanding “more dedication” (which forces them to give up other work and therefore spend “more time”), the concerns “are always the same”, too. In this sense, Miquel Font, a cowboy in Canillo who manages the entire process of herd crossing the mountain, has also noticed that his livestock colleagues are more anxious than usual and assures that “there have not been many incidents”. “. He also did not see any animals with severe symptoms, although he recognizes that some animals could be carriers of the virus. In addition, with the next drop in temperatures, the risk of bluetongue transmission will also disappear, as the disease is transmitted by mosquito bites and disappears with the cold. As explained by the government veterinarian, if an animal does not get sick despite being infected with the virus, its meat, milk and derived products can be consumed.

However, it is true that if the disease is not detected in time, the animal may die, which is why it is very important to organize these vaccination campaigns to “prevent disease” and be consistent with neighboring regions, because viruses, bacteria, and the diseases they cause do not understand borders.

Hygiene
The commune of Canillo abandoned the fences to be able to set up hoses and fences to keep the cattle together. On the eve of the veterinarian’s visit, the cowboys and other ranchers gathered the animals, thus speeding up the work of the next day. Starting at 8 o’clock, around 11 o’clock, the health of 285 cattle has been checked and the relevant vaccines have been injected. This year, the cleaning work has been postponed to the end of the month (usually completed in early August), and the passage of the cattle to the ranches of La Portela and Siscarro has also been postponed to next week. They will arrive in the Incles Valley in October and they will return to the livestock ranches for the winter after the season.