National Sheep Association launches survey to secure 2027 bluetongue vaccine supply

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has launched a survey for UK sheep farmers to estimate vaccine demand for the 2027 bluetongue season. The initiative follows significant supply shortages of the BTV-3 vaccine during the current outbreak, which has already seen over 1,000 sheep infected.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker stated that manufacturers require concrete indications of numbers and commitment to produce sufficient volumes, as production decisions must be made months in advance. The survey seeks to provide these figures to prevent a repeat of recent shortages.

In addition to estimating vaccination numbers, the survey asks farmers if they would be willing to place advance orders through veterinary practices this autumn. It also explores market trends, such as whether farmers would prefer to buy vaccinated sheep or expect higher prices for selling vaccinated stock.