organic and vaccination

Just seen on Country File where a farmer vaccinating cattle for Blue Tongue
was explaining that although they were organic - or "nearly organic"
whstever that means, possibly in conversion, - she needed a derogation (sp)
from the Soil Assoc to do the vaccination.

Why? Animals do not become non-organic if they have a disease and get over
it by their own resistance so why should artificial introduction of the
disease - not articial  <cure> be any different?

I think the SA hasn't got its act together on this one. Years ago when we
were considering becoming organic the local SA people told us that
vaccination was not allowed but the SA central management said that it was
if there was a likelyhood (local, if appropriate) of getting the disease.
AIUI it was not a "derogation". There is a likelyhood throughout UK for
Blue Tongue so why should derogation,  as in "special permission", be
needed.

And, above all that, why is it considered any different from getting the
disease "naturally"?

The SA attitude to vaccination - the attitude as portrayed by the
difference between central and local opinions - was one of the reasons why
we decided not to bother with organic. There was no way I was going to
subject my lambs to suffer and die unnecessarily of pasteurella which is
common in our local climate and I was not prepared to bother with any
argument with the local SA about vaccination even if I was certain to win
it on a call to their central organisation.

Cheers
Jane

--

Jane G       :      j.gillett@higherstert.co.uk            :        S Devon
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greymaus (17.08.2008 16:28)