Sudbury farmer faces huge losses over Bluetongue ban

Stephen Cobbald, of Acton Hall, Sudbury, and his assistant Amy Byford were due to be at a major sheep sale in Carlisle this week to sell 30 of his pedigree ewes.

"It's very frustrating, " he said. "We have got rams going to East Sussex and up to Carlisle and we have been told we can't move them."

Despite having no disease in his 250-strong flock - and taking great care to ensure the sheep's health - he is in a Bluetongue movement restriction zone imposed across Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.

Only sheep being sent to approved slaughterhouses under licence have been able to move out of the zone. As it stands any losses must be absorbed by the farmer.

It means that this season Stephen may be deprived of up to about £30k to £35k - around half his income - through lost sales.

(Image: Lucy Taylor)

It was a "big hit", he admitted. He has spent 18 months preparing his shearling ewes for market - and has taken precautionary measures to protect his flock from the virus.

"You get right up to within days of selling and you are told despite the fact you have no clinical signs of Bluetongue in your stock you are not allowed to move your sheep," he said.

"The worst of it is - the real kick in the bum is - that if you are in a designated area if you take your sheep to a sale most people would say I'm not going to buy your sheep because it's from Suffolk."

He fears that the restrictions won't be lifted any time soon. Last season they weren't lifted until March 2024.

(Image: Lucy Taylor)

"If we have to go until March to lift the restrictions there will be a lot of people forced out of sheep. You can't keep paying out and not get anything in. That's a few farmers that have gone out and that will be that."

Many livestock farmers in Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk are suffering as a result of the Bluetongue outbreak.

Earlier this week, Tim Pratt - who manages Wantisden Hall Farms at Woodbridge - said he  lost five pregnant ewes to Bluetongue. Others ewes on his farm aborted their lambs or got sick and recovered. 

Suffolk's Bishop Martin Seeley has warned of the devastating effect the virus is having on the farming community.

Suffolk farm chaplain Graham Miles said the restrictions were causing huge anxiety to farmers across the county.

As it stands there is no compensation scheme for livestock farmers in the three counties. These face extra costs and losses as a result of losing animals to the disease and from the effects of government restrictions on taking their stock to market outside the zone.

(Image: Lucy Taylor)

Bluetongue is spread by infected midges rather than from one animal to another - but an infected animal could be bitten and infect midges in another part of the country if moved.

But Stephen argues that midges don't respect borders and feels the government vets' strategy is unlikely to prevent the spread of the disease further into the UK.

"No one's going to tell me an infected midge is going to stop at the Cambridgeshire border," he said.

"A few people I have spoken to they are quite surprised DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has done what they have done and have walked away from it and don't give you any help," he said.

"I think people are a bit surprised -  they have just been hung out to dry really. That seems to be how things are operated now."

Autumn is a hugely important season for farmers like Stephen - who keeps Suffolk Sheep, Texels and Southdown Sheep - as he usually takes his ewes and rams to markets across the country.

"It could not have come at a worse time. Most people put their rams in for next year at the end of September or beginning of October so the sheep lamb in March," he said.

"Rightly or wrongly my own personal opinion is the best thing is to let it (the virus) go and learn to live with it and cope with it."

Last year another disease - Schmallenberg virus - ruined his lambing season. That virus is also spread by midges and "nothing was said or done about it", he pointed out.

Graham said he had taken many calls from farmers who were finding the situation stressful. It was "causing anxiety" and making many "think deep thoughts" about their future. 

Graham Miles (Image: Graham Miles)

"One particular farmer phoned me saying he had lost over £20k in the last two weeks because he couldn’t attend sales to sell his pedigree livestock.

"Another farmer had there herd of pedigree cattle tested positive for Bluetongue disease.

"Many farmers are confused on what they can or cannot do regarding movement etc. Again, this is causing stress and anxiety and financial difficulties.

"This is also affecting livestock haulage and markets causing stress and financial difficulties."

He added: "A farmer said to me: 'What is the point of carrying on, Graham? It’s one thing after another.'

"His family farm that has been handed down from generations to generations and is now in his care. He feels that he is letting his family down."

He urged farmers to keep an eye on their flocks and report any problems.

For anyone in the farming community who is suffering, Graham says he can be contacted 24/7 365 days. Phone 07413 683368 or email graham.miles.lightwave@gmail.com.

(Image: Charlotte Bond)