Schmallenberg Virus Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord McNally
Main Page: Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord McNally's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(12 years, 1 month ago)
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The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)
Can we hear from the noble Lord, Lord Soulsby, first?
Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior
My Lords, it is good news to hear that vaccines are being developed against the Schmallenberg virus although it takes time to authenticate the vaccine, get it licensed and the rest. A short-term approach could be to delay the breeding of cattle and sheep to a time when the insect vector—the biting midge—is less active because it is only through the biting midge transmitting the virus that this infection is transmitted from animal to animal. Has the Minister information about any work that is going on as regards advising farmers to delay animal breeding until there is less midge activity?