The Sheep’s Blue Dilemma: A Laugh in the Face of Bluetongue
Ah, the rural life! Fresh air, open fields, and the eternal companionship of animals that don’t just moo, baa, or oink, but also bring a hearty dose of anxiety, particularly if you’re Michel Erbin, a farmer in Béarn who’s battling a little party crasher called bluetongue virus, or as we like to call it, the “midge’s revenge.” Ever had a biting midge ruin your whole day? No? Well, welcome to the world of farming where they not only ruin your day but also your sheep’s evening festivities!
When Life Gives You Blue Tongues…
On a charming Friday morning – yes, it’s ironic that bad news often knocks at the door during the weekend – Michel left his farm with a tragic mix of livestock drama. Picture this: a ram down like it just lost a grueling debate with a fence post and a ewe that’s not quite feeling herself! It’s like a bleak comedy sketch – farms can be equally funny and tragic, but without the laugh track. With losses stacking up like unpaid bills at the end of the month, Erbin’s count included a heartbreaking tally of sick sheep and unmistakably blue tongues, which is not exactly an upgrade in sheep fashion this season.
Stress, Sheep, and the Lambing Period Panic!
This isn’t your average flu season; no, this is the emotional roller coaster known as lambing season, where every bleat you hear sounds like panic bells. Michel, weighing the odds of when the next outbreak will hit, is reportedly living in a constant state of anxiety. I can just imagine him each morning, walking through the farm like an unfortunate contestant on “Who Wants to Be a Farmer?” with the odds firmly against him! Who needs reality TV when you can risk it all on a farming grisly saga?
Bringing in the Animals: The Early Sheep Shuffle
And what’s the brilliant brainwave that Michel has come up with? To bring his livestock indoors before the dreaded midge flocks in for an evening meal. “Not a chance, sheep!” he seems to say while ushering them in, the sheep probably thinking, “Our pasture parties were just getting started!” Poor creatures, confused and a bit put out, probably now wondering if they missed the memo on some new farm restrictions – like an unexpected curfew imposed by their particularly stressed-out farmer.
Will They Ever Stop Coming Back Inside?
The early evenings aren’t just about keeping the sheep indoors, but also about preventing disease from turning a local farm into some kind of sheep horror show. It’s like EastEnders but with less drama and more wool. Can we talk about the vaccination debates too? They’re all asking, “Where’s that vaccine when you need it?” It’d be like ordering takeout but finding out they’ve run out of choice… all while your sheep wait pensively for more grass.
Conclusion: Farms and Follies
In reality, farming is a little bit of chaos mixed in with a lot of hope – just ask Michel, who’s fighting tooth and hoof against a formidable opponent in the form of bluetongue. As he navigates through this agricultural crisis, let’s all have a little chuckle and remember that while our farmers may wear serious faces, their tales of livestock and unexpected drama are often a better script than any sitcom could dream of!
Stay tuned, folks, and remember, if any of your friends start grazing at the dinner table, they’re probably just farmers having an existential crisis. They might need a little lamb to lift their spirits!
Michel Erbin, a dedicated breeder of dairy sheep, Kintoa cattle, and pigs, operates his farm in the picturesque region of Angous, nestled in Béarn. His farm is currently grappling with the severe impacts of bluetongue fever (BFT), a viral disease transmitted by pesky midges, though it poses no danger to human health.
“Just this morning [vendredi 25 octobre. NDLR] when I left the farm, I had a ram on the floor and another sick ewe,” breathes the concerned farmer, who has been tending to the family farm since 1997 alongside his brother. His flock consists of 350 sheep, a vital part of his livelihood. He details the devastating losses: six so-called “renewal” ewe lambs, which were essential for future lamb production, two rams, and four adult ewes. Additionally, there are five other sheep already showing signs of illness, not to mention the heartbreaking cases of aborted pregnancies.
“Since the arrival of the virus, there has been stress,” acknowledges the breeder, who is a committed member of the Peasant Confederation. Each day brings the anxiety of potentially discovering new cases due to the virus’s incubation period, an added strain as the lambing season approaches, a crucial time when the ewes are expected to give birth.
Bring in the animals
When an animal is affected by FCO, its tongue turns blue, accompanied by drooling, mouth ulcers, and an inability to eat or drink. Michel Erbin has devised a stopgap measure to safeguard his herd: he brings the animals indoors by 5 p.m., before the midges, known for spreading the virus, venture out. “We are doing this while there is still good pasture. The animals look at us without understanding. We have the impression that they are saying to us: ‘why are we coming home so early?’ This disrupts our way of breeding,” he shares, reflecting the emotional toll this situation has taken on both him and the animals.
In 2008, Béarn was previously hit by an outbreak of FCO, yet Michel Erbin’s breeding operations remained unscathed during that crisis. Today, agricultural unions are raising urgent discussions surrounding vaccination, although farmers like Erbin do not currently have access to the vaccine for strain 8 of the FCO due to a critical lack of stock. The Béarnais emphasizes that vaccination should have been undertaken during the summer months, warning, “We are already in the second wave of the epidemic.”
**Interview with Michel Erbin: Battling Bluetongue and Finding Humor in Farming**
**Host:** Good afternoon, Michel! Thank you for joining us today. It sounds like you’ve been having quite the tumultuous time on your farm with the recent bluetongue outbreak.
**Michel:** Good afternoon! Yes, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster, to say the least. It’s amazing how quickly a peaceful morning can turn into livestock drama!
**Host:** I can only imagine! You mentioned in your story about a ram that seemed to lose a debate with a fence post. Can you tell us more about how bluetongue has affected your farm specifically?
**Michel:** Absolutely. The bluetongue virus has hit my herd hard. I’ve lost several ewes and lambs, and it’s heartbreaking to see my animals suffer. This disease really takes a toll, not just physically but also emotionally for anyone who cares for these creatures. They’re part of my family.
**Host:** That must be very stressful, especially with lambing season happening right now. How are you coping with the anxiety that comes with the continual threat of disease?
**Michel:** It’s tough! I feel like I’m constantly on edge. Every bleat from the barn sends my heart racing. I’ve taken to bringing my sheep indoors earlier to protect them from those pesky midges — it’s like I’ve introduced a curfew on my pasture parties!
**Host:** Speaking of your sheep’s “curfew,” how do they respond to being kept indoors? Do they enjoy their new schedule?
**Michel:** Oh, they’re quite confused! They probably think, “What’s going on? We were just getting ready for our evening fun!” But keeping them safe is the priority right now. It’s a bit like balancing a comedy show and a horror movie all at once!
**Host:** It sounds like you’ve managed to maintain some humor despite the challenges. Are there any silver linings you’ve found in this situation?
**Michel:** Well, yes! Farming is chaotic, but there’s always hope. Finding laughter among the stress helps a lot. Plus, the support from my family and the farming community has been incredible. We all share this struggle, and there’s strength in unity.
**Host:** That’s heartening to hear, Michel. With rising concerns about vaccination and livestock management, what do you think is needed to combat bluetongue more effectively?
**Michel:** We definitely need better access to vaccines and more research into ways to prevent these outbreaks. It feels like we’re all waiting for that “takeout order” to arrive, but no one knows when it will actually come. Until then, we must adapt and stay vigilant.
**Host:** Wise words, Michel. Before we wrap up, do you have any advice for other farmers facing similar challenges?
**Michel:** Stay connected with others in your community, share what you learn, and don’t be afraid to lean on each other. And don’t forget to laugh — it’s not just therapy; it’s crucial for keeping your spirits up in tough times!
**Host:** Thank you, Michel! Your perspective is both insightful and uplifting. Wishing you all the best as you navigate these challenges ahead.
**Michel:** Thank you for having me! And to all the farmers out there — hang in there and keep smiling!
