Veterinary Services

• Ill thrift related to parasitic gastroenteritis in cattle
• Plant poisoning due to Pieris species in sheep
• Penile and vulval lesions in sheep associated with ovine herpesvirus 2
• Necrotising epidermitis in pigs due to Staphylococcus chromogenes
• Review of rotav

Disease alerts

The following conditions were highlighted by SAC in the report for May 2008. Given similar climatic and management conditions, they could be important this year.

• Increase in outbreaks of coccidiosis in calves
• Lead poisoning cases in cattle following turnout
• Increased incidents of Nematodirus battus infection in lambs
• Deaths due to clostridial diseases in unvaccinated sheep flocks

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The first half of February was very cold with frequent snow falls and frost. The rest of the month was mild with rain at times. It was the dullest February since 1998 and the driest February since 1993.

The Scottish Government announced two limited extensions to the April 30 deadline for the compulsory vaccination of cattle and sheep against bluetongue. These relate to livestock on uninhabited islands and remote hill sheep flocks north of the Great Glen. The deadline in these situations will be June 30. Over 34 percent of farm holdings had vaccinated by February 25. Over 3.3 million doses of vaccine have been taken up.

The risks to pregnant women of working with sheep during lambing were highlighted by the Scottish Government. Given that several of the causes of sheep abortion are zoonoses, the advice is that pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season.