Scientists from The James Hutton Institute invite farmers and livestock keepers to share thoughts on bluetongue disease
Researchers from The James Hutton Institute are inviting farmers in the Borders to share their views on bluetongue disease and its impacts at one of three workshops.
Affecting livestock such as sheep, cattle and goats, bluetongue is a viral disease spread by biting midges. While it presents no threat to humans, the disease can cause fever, swelling and lameness in stricken animals, with serious cases resulting in abortion, malformation and death. In November 2023, the first case of a new bluetongue virus serotype (BTV-3) was confirmed in England after appearing in other northern European countries. BTV-3 has continued to spread since and, at the beginning of July 2025, the UK government introduced restrictions on livestock movements from England to Scotland due to the virus.
Hutton social scientists are keen to hear how these new restrictions and concerns about bluetongue are impacting farmers in the Borders. Using funding from EPIC Scotland, the team plan to host three workshops for farmers and keepers, each of which will run from 6:30pm to 9pm. The first will be held in St Boswells on Tuesday 29 July, with the others taking place in Carlisle on Wednesday 30 July and Lockerbie on Thursday 31 July. Findings from the workshops will be anonymously passed on to the Scottish Government and considered when deciding future policy around animal disease.
Research scientist Dr Niamh Mahon, who is part of the team organising the workshops, said, “As part of Scottish Government-funded research, we will be holding three workshops along the Scottish Borders with cattle and sheep keepers to explore their thoughts and concerns around BTV and the measures to combat the disease.
“It is important that the voices of farmers and keepers are heard, and key, anonymised findings will be shared with Scottish policymakers to help inform future disease control actions.
“We encourage any farmers or keepers with views on this important subject to come along to one of the workshops to share their thoughts and experiences.”
“It is important that the voices of farmers and keepers are heard, and key, anonymised findings will be shared with Scottish policymakers to help inform future disease control actions.”
Dr Niamh Mahon, Research Scientist
Attendees will be provided with supper and reimbursed for their travel and childcare expenses.
Numbers are limited, so those interested in attending should register by emailing carol.kyle@hutton.ac.uk or calling 01224 395206.
