Veterinary Services

• Dramatic perineal oedema in ewes pre-lambing (Figure 1)
• Abomasal form of listeriosis in sheep (Figure 2)
• Klebsiella septicaemia in calves
• Ruminal impaction in suckler cows
• Nutritional cardiomyopathy in cattle
• Ruminal acidosis in lambs
• Copper poisoning of lambs
• Rotavirus infection of pigs
• Necrotic pododermatitis in broilers

Scottish abattoir deadweight prices for steers, heifers and young bulls in January were down on equivalent figures for 2005 as were liveweight prices at Scottish auctions for ewes and lambs.

January weather was anticyclonic and dry, apart from an unsettled spell in mid-month. On New Year’s Day the temperature at Aviemore ranged between -12°C and -1°C although the mean national January temperature was 3.1°C, which is in the above average category. Rainfall was below average and sunshine close to average.

The Scottish Executive announced research findings which showed that temperatures have increased in every season and in all parts of Scotland since 1961, and that in the north and west, rainfall has increased by almost sixty percent in winter months.