The calf was severely deformed and the veterinary surgeon had to assist with the calving. SAC Consulting, Veterinary Services, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), carried out the post mortem examination and, together with Moredun Institute, performed tests which confirmed the presence of Schmallenberg disease.

SRUC made the announcement this week. This is the northernmost case of SBV detected so far in the UK. Scottish authorities said on Wednesday that "Confirmation of a case of SBV in Aberdeenshire is unexpected because, to date, the only cases in Scotland have been in Dumfries and Galloway."

SRUC said preliminary investigations have suggested the virus was possibly introduced with store cattle from Dumfriesshire last autumn. Midges could have spread the virus from the store cattle to the homebred stock while the cattle were housed over the winter, SRUC posited.

SBV, which was first discovered in autumn 2011 in Germany, has since spread throughout Europe; the disease has now been detected in 17 states to date. Schmallenberg virus can cause abortions and birth defects in animals when a dam is infected in the first third of pregnancy. It has caused serious losses among cattle and sheep on some farms, though the disease's effects on other susceptible animals, including deer, continue to be a source of speculation.

However, the launch of a vaccine earlier this month by MSD Animal Health, and the suggestion that, once infected, animals develop immunity which should pass to their offspring, has led animal health experts to express hope that the disease's impact will be limited.

SRUC said on Wednesday that the new information on the spread of SBV in the north will contribute to monitoring efforts and improve understanding of the disease's spread over the coming summer and autumn.

Although the disease remains non-notifiable, SRUC (and AHVLA in England) have advised any farmers who encounter foetal abnormalities, stillbirths or newborns showing signs of nervous disease to contact their vet, or local disease surveillance centre in order to build up an accurate picture of infection.

SRUC said "[Farmers and vets] should not assume these are cases of Schmallenberg virus infection as other diseases can cause birth defects in lambs and calves and it is important to know which disease you are dealing with."