A new Schmallenberg virus vaccine called SBVvax is available to Irish flock owners. The introduction of the vaccine to the Irish market, by manufacturer Merial, is timely given the only previously available vaccine, Bovillus SBV, is currently not being manufactured.

SBVvax is a single-dose vaccine of 1ml administered subcutaneously to sheep (two 1ml injections required three weeks apart for cattle).

It can be administered from 2.5 months of age and must be given at least three weeks before the start of the breeding season.

The product is a prescription-only medicine (POM), meaning that it can only be sourced direct from a veterinary surgeon. Package size is 50ml or 50 doses per pack.

Risk status

There have been many discussions and queries in recent weeks as to the risk status of this year’s breeding flock following very few reports of the virus this spring.

The reality is that the disease risk is relatively unknown.

The virus hit early-lambing flocks sporadically in the east and southeast in spring 2013 but seems to have disappeared this spring, despite some predictions that the virus would spread further up the country.

There are no clear signals that the virus will reoccur next year, but likewise there is nothing to say that there could not be another outbreak. Decisions on vaccination will boil down to a farmer’s own decision.

Early lambing and pedigree flocks are likely to be at the greatest risk due to the fact that sheep are most at risk of contracting the virus between days 30 and 50 of gestation – a period when the vector of the disease, the midge, is likely to still be very active. If in doubt, you should consult your vet about putting a vaccination programme in place.