Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president, William Irvine, has highlighted the growing challenge of animal disease to agriculture across the island of Ireland.
He said: “This is deeply concerning against the backdrop of a farming sector that will be expected to increase its food production output significantly during the period ahead.”
The UFU representative spoke at a recent press event to mark the launch of the union’s 2026 series of presidential meetings.
Significantly, the UFU is working on the basis that bluetongue is now a reality across the island of Ireland.
“We will have to see how the disease impacts on the 2026 spring lambing and calving seasons,” Irvine continued.
“But bluetongue is not the only disease threat is impacting on Irish agriculture at the present time. Avian flu, for example, continues to pose a major threat to our poultry sector.”
Meanwhile, France is already coping with lumpy skin disease.
“I looked recently at a map of Europe, which profiled disease outbreaks currently taking place across the continent,” Irvine continued.
“And a quick glance confirmed one salutary fact: diseases aplenty are now impacting within almost every region of the European Union.
“And, invariably, these significant animal health challenges will be heading our way: sooner rather than later.”
Vaccination
Irvine views vaccination as a key defence against the threat of disease. And bluetongue is a case in point.
“We will learn a lot as to how the disease has progressed, or not, in Northern Ireland over the coming weeks,” he said.
“But it is concerning that midge activity was quite high late in to the autumn of last year. Bluetongue is spread by midges. They are the vectors of the disease.
“However, pregnant cows and ewes that have become infected can pass the disease on to the foetuses they are carrying.
“But vaccination is an option for individual cattle and sheep farmers, should they choose to go down that route.”
The confirmation of bluetongue in Northern Ireland follows on from the arrival of Schmallenberg disease a number of years ago.
It was a development that had significant knock-on effects for the sheep sector.
Schmallenberg-affected flocks have been severely impacted from a breeding and overall production perspective.
“It is critically important that animal health standards are maximised as agriculture in Northern Ireland looks to the future,” Irvine said.
“The need to produce more food in an increasingly sustainable manner has become the industry’s number one priority.”
