Veterinary Services

• Seasonal increase in lungworm infections in cattle.
• Stillborn calves received from five suckler herds. Slow Calving Syndrome suspected.

• Caseous lymphadenitis confirmed in 12 flocks.
• Suspect case of classical swine fever (CSF) notified to Animal Health.  Streptococcal septicaemia subsequently diagnosed.
• Trichomoniasis and E coli O86 cause mortality in garden birds.

July was exceptionally wet in Scotland, although not as wet as England and Wales.  Mean rainfall was 141 per cent of the 1961-1990 average.  The mean temperature was close to average while sunshine was well below average across north-east Scotland but slightly above average across Western areas.

Early in July the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment announced that farmers would be allowed to use set-aside land to feed their livestock where heavy rains had ruined pastures.  The impact of climate change on UK livestock featured in two announcements.  A team led by an SAC economist will assess the impact of climate change on UK livestock in a two-year Defra-funded project.  The team will consider how much, if anything, should be spent by Government in adapting the sector to adverse impacts.  Also the Scottish Executive announced funding for a project to establish the seasonal distribution and abundance of potential bluetongue midge vectors across Scotland.  The SAC will support the field operations.