Disclosed is a novel vaccine formulation for prevention against Bluetongue virus infection in domestic and wild ruminants, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and any other mammals for commercial use. The antigen present in the vaccine is an inactivated antigen comprising 5 different serotypes of Bluetongue virus, thereby making a pentavalent vaccine formulation against Bluetongue virus infections. Also disclosed are method of adaptation of Bluetongue virus in suspension culture upto 2000 liters industrial size bioreactors, and inactivation techniques for preparation of the given vaccine formulation with the presence of suitable adjuvants and preservatives.

Provided are immunogenic and vaccine compositions and methods for their preparation and use, which compositions are effective in protecting against, minimizing the severity of, preventing, and/or ameliorating infection of ruminants with Bluetongue virus. Administration to an animal of at least one dose of an adjuvanted and twice inactivated Bluetongue virus composition as disclosed herein is effective in providing immunity to the animal and protection from infection with Bluetongue virus, thereby reducing the severity of and/or preventing disease caused by one or more strains or serotypes of Bluetongue virus.