The Ovibeja agricultural fair is currently taking place in Beja until Sunday, serving as a significant meeting point for many livestock breeders, technicians, and association leaders to evaluate the sector. Held in the livestock pavilion, the fair offers insights into recent developments and challenges.
Livestock breeder Luís Campos, operating a farm near Monforte in the Portalegre district, shared that he vaccinated his herd of 250 sheep in March against the new serotype 3 of bluetongue disease, which emerged in Portugal in 2024. Campos expressed hope that the vaccination would offer protection, stating, “I am almost certain that bluetongue will return in full force due to the winter and spring rains.” He invested 1,200 euros in vaccinating his animals.
Campos noted that many have yet to vaccinate their animals against serotype 3, largely due to economic reasons, as the cost falls on the breeders themselves. “There is no state support, unlike the vaccines for serotypes 1 and 4, which have been administered free of charge for several years,” he pointed out.
He mentioned that while vaccination covers serotypes 1, 3, and 4, the danger persists, warning, “If serotype 8, which is already in neighboring Spain, appears, we are back to square one.”
Another livestock breeder, Miguel Madeira, who keeps 2,400 Campaniça sheep in Mértola, Beja district, intends to vaccinate against all three serotypes soon, considering it the best way to protect his flock. “No vaccine offers total protection, but the animals are reasonably protected, and those that do fall ill will not suffer as severely as unvaccinated ones,” he emphasized.
Madeira remains cautious about the possible emergence of serotype 8, already detected in Nisa, Portalegre district, and present in Spain. “We must be vigilant, and if serotype 8 continues to spread, we need to act as well,” he advised.
Reflecting on last year’s emergence of serotype 3, Madeira recalled the absence of a vaccine at the time and expressed that if herds are vaccinated promptly this year, the number of deaths and abortions may decrease.
On the other hand, Miguel Sena Esteves, also a breeder in Monforte, avoided significant issues last year by opting for animal and facility disinfection instead of vaccination against serotype 3. He plans to follow the same strategy this year, explaining, “We even set up a sprinkler system to spray 70 animals at a time, which helped significantly as a repellent.”
Esteves is apprehensive about administering the serotype 3 vaccine due to its novelty and potential side effects like abortions and its lack of protection against other disease variants. “We will never be fully protected against all serotypes. The main focus should be on developing effective mosquito repelling mechanisms,” he reiterated.
Serotype 3 of the virus responsible for the disease is insect-transmitted, primarily affecting sheep, and was first detected in mid-September 2024 in the Évora district, spreading nationwide with severe impacts on thousands of animals.
