Veterinary Services

Respiratory disease causes losses in Scottish cattle, sheep and poultry

• Trace element deficiency in cattle
• Lead poisoning of suckled calves
• Acetonaemia in dairy cattle
• Paratuberculosis in sheep
• PMWS and PDNS in pigs
• Salmonellosis in garden birds

The Scottish Executive announced that the ban on bird gatherings, including sales, pigeon racing and falconry events had been lifted as the risk of the introduction of high pathogenic avian influenza to the UK remained low.

A temporary ban on bird gatherings was introduced throughout Europe in October as a precaution against the spread of AI.

Bird gatherings will now be permitted to go ahead subject to adherence to specific biosecurity procedures and prior notification of the State Veterinary Service.

A large anticyclone dominated the weather in Scotland, giving a dry month to much of the country. Mild weather from the Atlantic predominated, but cold weather from the east arrived to give a frosty Christmas week with -13 °C recorded at Aviemore just after Christmas. The mean temperature however was 3.7 °C, which is in the above-average category. Total rainfall for the month was 97.1 mm, in the below-average category.

Scottish abattoir deadweight prices for steers, heifers and young bulls in December were well above equivalent figures for 2004 while liveweight prices at Scottish auctions for the same classes of stock were marginally below equivalent 2004 values. Both lamb and ewe prices at Scottish auctions were also down compared with 2004 values.