Evelyn72

Okay, I know thousands of you are going have experience of this...but it would be extremely helpful to me at the moment to have contact with someone who has had relatively recent experience of moving goats from the UK to Italy and has knowledge of the Bluetongue legislation.

I'm not holding out hope that I'll be inundated with responses...

duffer

Until you get a proper answer -

"Doctor, Doctor I feel like a goat".
"How long have you felt like that"?
..... "Since I was a kid".

The corny ones are the best!

Smooth move

Hello,

We don't have recent experience of moving goats but move cats and dogs very frequently and always found Defra very helpful in answering questions.

Evelyn72

Can't help with any goats I'm afraid but welcome to the forum.

37100

If needed, I can ask our neighbour - he's a farm vet. He actualy told me something about blue tongue a while back because he was doing preventive vaccination, but I didn't pay much attention. I mean, why would I?

Evelyn72

Ooooh, if you would, please?

Having it from the horses mouth so to speak, would really help.

I can't believe you didn't hang on to his every word - I would have been taking notes!

Please, if you do get the opportunity, mention to him that they are goats - the sheep have different regulations because the bluetongue vaccine is licensed for them and so they can travel - it isn't (at least in the UK) licensed for goats. - Hence the problem (or at least one of them!)

Lorna at Vicenza

Oh God. Please don't ask me what I accidentally clicked on - but I have truly messed up and I think deleted your last post Evelyn.

I'm sorry. Brain is obviously out of order. Need a siesta.

Evelyn72

You didn't delete the last post, but in the second one I made I'm now answering myself...

I look like I've asked a question and then told myself I can't be of any help

Lorna at Vicenza

I honestly don't know what happened. I was only supposed to be quoting your post and not editing or deleting it.

whitelinen

It is sometimes possible to apply for a derogation for this type of thing but
that would have to be granted by the Italian equivalent of DEFRA and no doubt in Italian.

Have you asked the FU or Goat Club or similar organisation for advice/assistance?

Evelyn72

Hi Whitelinen

Do you mean the Farmers Union and Goat Club in Italy?

I'm only trying to clarify that you have these bodies because they might be of some help.

Here in the UK I haven't been in touch with NFU or any Goat Clubs - I've just been in touch with an MEP though (Desperate measures!)

duffer

Does goats cheese really have goats in it? They shouldn't label it suitable for vegetarians then!

Evelyn72

No silly, goat's cheese just belongs to goats!

duffer

well I'm giving it back then 'cos this stinks!

Evelyn72

So you should, it wasn't yours in the first place, I told you - it's the goats'

Besides, only pigs smell their own muck.