Veterinary Services

• Second bovine abortion outbreak in the south of Scotland due to Bovine Herpes Virus type 1 (BHV1) infection.
• Seasonal increase in nutritional and metabolic disorders in cattle and sheep.
• A vero-toxin producing strain of E. coli (E. coli O38:K+) isolated from aborted lambs from a flock affected by abortion and death in ewes.

• Swine dysentery detected by PCR and culture of faecal samples from growing and finishing pigs on several units

• Pathogenic Brachyspira species isolated from 49 percent of faecal sample submissions from commercial layers with "wet droppings".

General Introduction

The weather in Scotland in February continued to follow the pattern of warm wet weather seen throughout the winter. The mean temperature of 4° C was 2° C above the 1961 to 1990 average. Rainfall was also above average particularly in Aberdeen where twice the monthly average rainfall was recorded.

The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department reported the final results of the December 2006 Agricultural Census. The number of sheep fell by one percent from 5.3 million to 5.2 million. This continues a long-term decline in sheep numbers form a peak of 6.6 million in 1998. The decline has been most severe in the north and west of the country. The number of cattle also fell by one percent from 1.90 million to 1.87 million. Cattle numbers have shown a steady decline from 2.03 million in 1996. For intensive livestock, the number of pigs fell by five percent to 469,700. This compares with a peak of 650,800 in 1997.

The SAC issued a Press Release to advise all Scottish flock owners to test the sheep wormer they plan to use this season during the next few weeks. Flock owners should ensure that the sheep wormer that they select is effective at killing parasitic worms.