Veterinary Services

• Lungworm in cattle was a common diagnosis across Scotland
• Salmonella Dublin confirmed on six farms in Ayrshire
• More outbreaks of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) in lambs
• Losses among gamebirds in release pens
• Mycobacteriosis diagnosed in a cat imported from South Africa that died in quarantine

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

While temperatures in Scotland were close to the long term 1961 to 1980 average, this was the coldest September since 1994. It was the dullest September since 1992 but rainfall overall was 68 per cent of the long term average.

Submissions of diagnostic material were disrupted by the reintroduction of animal movement controls following the re-emergence of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey. All eight Disease Surveillance Centres were closed for the submission of ruminant and pig carcases for necropsy between 12th and 19th September. The Scottish Government announced provisional estimates from the June 2007 Agricultural Census. Total numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs fell by 1.8 per cent, 1.8 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. The poultry flock expanded by 2.6 per cent.

SAC published a free, new information leaflet containing practical tips for managing the welfare of the weaned calf. The publication is available to Scottish farmers from their local SAC office or can be accessed from the SAC website. Publication was supported by the Scottish Government through the Welfare of the Weaned Calf Campaign.