After the virus, abortions and no milk: the endless nightmare of the blue tongue in the Sardinian sheepfolds

Here the Bluetongue virus , serotypes 3 and 8 together, arrived between August and September , and today – after counting 80 dead animals and spending months trying to save the sick ones – the backlash of the Bluetongue epidemic is starting to be seen , the abortions (50 so far) and the consequences that the missed births will have on milk production. Milk and lambs, the wealth of the breeders.

The farmers' drama is told by Federico Meleddu , 45 years old, from Laconi , owner of a farm in the Crastu area. A flock of a thousand sheep that he manages with his two cousins who have a shed and land in Asuni. Here the epidemic has affected half of the flock.

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