Hundreds of cattle being culled after months at sea

On 18 December the cattle set sail from the Spanish port of Cartagena however, the ship had to turn around after both countries Turkey and Libya rejected it, as a result of the animals’ state of health and disease fears.

After more than two months at sea, on 25 February, the returned ship docked at Cartagena’s port with the cattle onboard. Some cattle had died during the weeks at sea.

Photo: Bert Jansen

The remaining 864 cattle are set to be culled “in strict compliance with Spanish and European norms regulating the health and well-being of animals,” Spain’s Agriculture Ministry said. Following inspections, the animals were found to be unfit to be exported to another country and cannot be returned to Spain.

Despite Bluetongue disease fears, there has been no confirmation that the animals were indeed positive for the disease.

Bluetongue disease

According to EFSA, bluetongue is a vector-borne viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle and deer. It is transmitted through the bites of certain species of Culicoides midges. Some species of the midges that transmit the disease are active throughout the year – especially in mild-winter areas such as the Mediterranean basin. In these areas, transmission of the virus may occur at any time. In colder areas, such as in northern Europe, midges are inactive for about three winter months, during which transmission is halted.

Symptoms include: fever, haemorrhages of the oral and nasal tissue, excessive salivation, and nasal discharge and lameness.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease in many countries.