Tirlán Co-op urges milk suppliers to talk to their vet about bluetongue vaccination

Tirlán Co-op is encouraging farm family milk suppliers to consult with their vet and explore the merit of vaccinating against bluetongue, BTV-3. Two doses are required, three weeks apart, to reduce the level of impact BTV-3 can have in herds.

With multiple strains now circulating in Europe, Tirlán is asking milk suppliers to consider targeting their breeding stock in the first instance to avoid poor pregnancy rates, late abortions, difficult calvings, calf mortality and milk drop.

Vaccination is permitted under special license and while it doesn’t fully stop infection or disease, it greatly reduces virus load as well as sickness for infected animals. BTV-3 is difficult to control as it is mainly transmitted by biting midges. Embryos and semen can also be a route of infection.

Speaking in the wake of a Tirlán Council meeting to discuss the evolving situation, John Murphy, Tirlán Chairperson, said: “While bluetongue does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk from either meat or dairy, farm family suppliers should engage with their vet now and discuss the merit of vaccination.

“We encourage our suppliers to take action now to protect the herd during the highest risk period, which coincides with a high level of susceptibility and potential impact in Spring calving herds.”

Joris Somers, Head of Animal Health and Welfare at Tirlán, said: “Where merited, the first dose should be administered in the middle of March, the second around April 7. Vaccination is only available through your vet carrying a special DAFM license. Protection is in place three weeks after the second dose.”

Suppliers should be vigilant and watch out for fever, milk drop, loss of appetite, drooling and swollen tongues in the herd. Other lookouts include lameness, breathing difficulties, discharge from the eyes and/or the nose and abortion or deformed offspring, he added.

First Published: 18 March 2026