Stokesley 2025
Fees & Forms
Click here for information on fees and links to downloadable forms.
Contacts
Tel: 01322 611767 email:
[email protected]
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Membership
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BTV cases continue to increase, and clinical signs are more severe than previous years.
Don’t miss the next #BattleBluetongue webinar on 19 August (5-6pm). Hear directly from industry experts and vets on the latest disease situation, and key information.
Be informed, stay vigilant and book via the AHDB website.
https://ahdb.org.uk/events/bluetongue-virus-update-19-august
Submit questions in advance: https://forms.office.com/e/dEpjrQE5bS
Don’t miss the next #BattleBluetongue webinar on 19 August (5-6pm). Hear directly from industry experts and vets on the latest disease situation, and key information.
Be informed, stay vigilant and book via the AHDB website.
https://ahdb.org.uk/events/bluetongue-virus-update-19-august
Submit questions in advance: https://forms.office.com/e/dEpjrQE5bS
I'm sure you are aware of the ongoing soaring cases of bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV-3) especially in the South West. The situation is extremely dynamic and so it is imperative to remain vigilant.
Keepers, please familiarise yourselves with the clinical signs of the virus. Sheep are currently more likely to show symptoms of the virus compared with cattle, clinical signs include:
• ulcers/sores in the mouth and nose
• discharge from eyes or nose
• drooling from the mouth
• swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and coronary bands
• high fevers
• lameness
• milk drop
• inappetence
• abortions, stillbirths & foetal abnormalities
For more information on how to recognise bluetongue, please visit the DEFRA website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
Please also refer to the Goat Veterinary society website: www.goatvetsociety.co.uk
If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:
03000 200 301 in England
03003038268 in Wales
your local Field Services Office in Scotland
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you are breaking the law.
The main prevention of animals contracting bluetongue is vaccination. The current advised vaccination protocol in goats is an initial course of two doses 3 weeks apart with a booster at 12 months (based on sheep/cattle data), please note none of the vaccines in the UK are currently licensed for goats but have been used in Europe. (attached for your information is the bluetongue vaccine comparisons table). Vets please encourage your clients to vaccinate, and share bottles between smaller herds where possible to reduce costs in hope to increase vaccination uptake, by reporting vaccine usage as appropriate.
Jessica Hagain BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS
Keepers, please familiarise yourselves with the clinical signs of the virus. Sheep are currently more likely to show symptoms of the virus compared with cattle, clinical signs include:
• ulcers/sores in the mouth and nose
• discharge from eyes or nose
• drooling from the mouth
• swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and coronary bands
• high fevers
• lameness
• milk drop
• inappetence
• abortions, stillbirths & foetal abnormalities
For more information on how to recognise bluetongue, please visit the DEFRA website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
Please also refer to the Goat Veterinary society website: www.goatvetsociety.co.uk
If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:
03000 200 301 in England
03003038268 in Wales
your local Field Services Office in Scotland
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you are breaking the law.
The main prevention of animals contracting bluetongue is vaccination. The current advised vaccination protocol in goats is an initial course of two doses 3 weeks apart with a booster at 12 months (based on sheep/cattle data), please note none of the vaccines in the UK are currently licensed for goats but have been used in Europe. (attached for your information is the bluetongue vaccine comparisons table). Vets please encourage your clients to vaccinate, and share bottles between smaller herds where possible to reduce costs in hope to increase vaccination uptake, by reporting vaccine usage as appropriate.
Jessica Hagain BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS
Goat Veterinary Society – Dedicated to goat care
The Society was formed in 1979 to promote interest in and improve knowledge of goats within the veterinary profession. It is a professional society and specialist species division of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), to which veterinary surgeons or associates may turn to for advice.
2026 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITON
Reminder to All Members - closing date 27th July 2026
https://forms.gle/Ncc4AJRNiZ6mxzMh6
Entries can be uploaded via this form for classes, and is the preferred method of entry, and each photo must be submitted one at a time. The entry form will automatically close on: 27th July at 10pm
Entries for classes 1 to 21 will be judged by an independent BGS judge.
Entries for classes 22 to 30 will be judged by Hannah Campbell.
There is no entry fee.
No photograph submitted should have been edited in any way other than cropping and light adjusted.
No photograph submitted should have appeared in any BGS publication to date.
Multiple entries per class are encouraged, but should not exceed three per class per person.
For classes 1 to 21 the photograph must be a side view shot taken with the head of the goat facing to the right. If a person is holding the animal then this person should not be identifiable in the photo.
Rare breed classes are limited to those on the RBST watchlist.
Photos that place 1st-3rd may be used in a BGS calendar, by entering you are giving permission for the usage of your images in this way.
Classes:
White Milker
Colour Milker
Anglo Nubian Milker
Rare Breed Milker
White Goatling
Colour Goatling
Anglo Nubian Goatling
Rare Breed Goatling
White Female Kid
Colour Female Kid
Anglo Nubian Female Kid
Rare Breed Female Kid
Adult Male
Buckling
Male Kid
Female Boer
Male Boer
Female Pygmy
Male Pygmy
Swiss Type Head Study
Anglo Nubian Head Study
Cutest Kids
Goats in the Snow
Herd Photo
Show Line-up
Show Behind the Scenes
Goat Husbandry
Action Shot (Goats in Motion)
Young Photographer (10 and under)
Young Photographer (11-16)
Reminder to All Members - closing date 27th July 2026
https://forms.gle/Ncc4AJRNiZ6mxzMh6
Entries can be uploaded via this form for classes, and is the preferred method of entry, and each photo must be submitted one at a time. The entry form will automatically close on: 27th July at 10pm
Entries for classes 1 to 21 will be judged by an independent BGS judge.
Entries for classes 22 to 30 will be judged by Hannah Campbell.
There is no entry fee.
No photograph submitted should have been edited in any way other than cropping and light adjusted.
No photograph submitted should have appeared in any BGS publication to date.
Multiple entries per class are encouraged, but should not exceed three per class per person.
For classes 1 to 21 the photograph must be a side view shot taken with the head of the goat facing to the right. If a person is holding the animal then this person should not be identifiable in the photo.
Rare breed classes are limited to those on the RBST watchlist.
Photos that place 1st-3rd may be used in a BGS calendar, by entering you are giving permission for the usage of your images in this way.
Classes:
White Milker
Colour Milker
Anglo Nubian Milker
Rare Breed Milker
White Goatling
Colour Goatling
Anglo Nubian Goatling
Rare Breed Goatling
White Female Kid
Colour Female Kid
Anglo Nubian Female Kid
Rare Breed Female Kid
Adult Male
Buckling
Male Kid
Female Boer
Male Boer
Female Pygmy
Male Pygmy
Swiss Type Head Study
Anglo Nubian Head Study
Cutest Kids
Goats in the Snow
Herd Photo
Show Line-up
Show Behind the Scenes
Goat Husbandry
Action Shot (Goats in Motion)
Young Photographer (10 and under)
Young Photographer (11-16)