Veterinary Services

• A severe outbreak of neonatal enteritis in calves due to attaching and effacing E coli infection
• Acute fasciolosis diagnosed in ewes and gimmers
• Seasonal increase in systemic Pasteurellosis diagnoses in lambs
• Louping ill diagnosed commonly in sheep

General iIntroduction

September was the warmest on record with the highest temperature of 24°C recorded on the Moray coast in the middle of the month. Sunshine hours were also above average and rainfall close to average.

Grass growth during the month was stimulated by these weather conditions permitting third cut silage to be made in areas of South West Scotland and providing an abundance of grass for grazing stock. In general dairy cows stayed at grass throughout the month, although reduced grass quality lead to an expected increase in metabolic disease and body condition loss in high yielding animals.

A significant outbreak of bovine TB was diagnosed in a flying dairy herd in SouthWest Scotland. Four index cases were identified at meat inspection and follow up testing of the herd revealed 60 positive reactors and 11 inconclusive reactors being identified.

June 2006 animal census results were released by the Scottish Executive indicating a 1.6% decrease in the total cattle population, a 3.6% fall in sheep numbers, a 1.6% increase in pig numbers and a 4.5% fall in poultry numbers.