“There will be lambs at Christmas”, but “breeders need support from the public authorities”, says the National Sheep Federation

“Serotype 8, a new variant, which is currently affecting sheep farms is destructive; it is a health earthquake that is taking place”deplores Michèle Boudoin, president of the National Sheep Federation (FNO), on franceinfo on Friday, September 13, while bluetongue is gaining ground. There is also “the spreading serotype 3”. “For farmers and sheep breeders, it’s between 10 and 60% of violent mortality for their breeding stock. We are a little helpless because we can’t save these sheep.”warns the National Sheep Federation.

The sheep “have a fever, they can no longer get up and the most fragile are the pregnant ewes that will give birth in the fall, it is towards them that all the breeders turn their attention to try to save them. We have a lot of economic difficulties that are caused by these losses, because you lose the ewe, you lose the lamb that she was supposed to give birth to”. “We have had to treat this disease as it comes along with vaccine shortages for serotype 8 where there is a resurgence”explains Michèle Boudoin.

Regarding vaccination, “we could have gone faster” And “We need collective and European management to treat this type of viral disease because we are helpless. The time for the vaccine to take effect takes 39 days.”specifies Michèle Boudoin. “I have 500 sheep I just lost 70 in three weeks.”

“Sheep farmers need support and a strong signal from the French public authorities in terms of direct losses while waiting for the appointment of the new Minister of Agriculture.”

Michèle Boudoin, president of the National Sheep Federation (FNO)

on franceinfo

The sheep breeder is still optimistic, because she “I think there will be lambs at Christmas because not all departments are affected, there are only 22 for the serotype 3. We will be able to supply consumers at Christmas, but throughout 2025 there will be incidents in the supply chain.”