While insisting that it was not a case of trying to drum up sales, a leading vaccine manufacturer has warned that a serious animal disease outbreak could have a disastrous impact on the NI agricultural industry.

Emphasising that it was simply 'a warning' that demand is going to outstrip supply this summer, David Bartram, a vet from manufacturers Fort Dodge Animal Health, said Northern Ireland could find itself unable to get hold of the vaccine in the event of an outbreak of the cattle disease, bluetongue.

"With limited supplies available, the risk is that if a pre-order for a vaccine hasn't been placed there may not be sufficient supplies in order to meet demand in Northern Ireland," he said.

As a result, he claimed that farmers could find themselves without protection against bluetongue disease this summer as supplies of the vaccine are limited and the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland has not yet placed an order.

Millions of doses would be needed to control an outbreak in cattle and sheep.

Government vets in England and Wales have ordered 22.5m doses of the vaccine to use this summer. The authorities in Scotland are also expected to order vaccine soon.

In response, the Department of Agriculture NI said that the Province is a bluetongue-free region, and is therefore in a different position.

Also, because the vaccine has a limited shelf life the department has decided not to order vaccine but will continue to monitor the situation carefully in line with veterinary advice.

Fort Dodge Animal Health held a special press conference yesterday to underline the company's claim that crucial vaccines for the disease may not be available until too late.

(BMcC/KMcA)