Veterinary Services

• Black disease, the cardiac form of blackleg and clostridial enterotoxaemia confirmed in cattle
• Parasitic bronchitis in cattle frequently diagnosed
• Diagnosis of Johne’s disease in cattle and sheep 1993 to 2008
• Fourteen outbreaks of systemic pasteurellosis 
• Erysipelas confirmed in growing turkeys and laying hens

Disease alerts

The following conditions featured in the SAC C VS report for January 2009. Given similar climatic and production conditions, they could also be important in January 2010.

• 
  Concurrent fasciolosis and Johne’s disease resulting in ill thrift in spring calving suckler cows.
• Black disease in cattle.
• High incidence of fasciolosis in sheep and cattle.
• Suspected resistance of liver fluke to triclabendazole.
• Neonatal anaemia in piglets.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

October was an unsettled but mild month. Mean temperatures were typically 1.0 degree Celsius above the 1971 to 2000 normal. Rainfall ranged from below normal in the west and south to well above normal in the north-east. Aberdeenshire had 150 per cent of the thirty year average with over 90 millimetres falling in a 24 hour period. Sunshine totals were generally close to normal.
The Scottish Government encouraged farmers to make full use of the bluetongue vaccine stocks made available under the compulsory vaccination campaign. The compulsory vaccination requirements remained in place until October 25. After that date, animal keepers may continue to vaccinate on a voluntary basis.

Results of the 2009 June Agricultural Census were published in early October. Animal numbers in all sectors showed continuing decreases, pigs showing the largest reduction of 9.1 per cent.