Veterinary Services

• Review of coccidiosis in calves in 2010
• Unusually high incidence of Bacillus licheniformis abortion in cows
• Hypervitaminosis A in lambs on milk replacer
• Scaly leg in black grouse

Disease alerts

The following conditions featured in the SAC C VS report for July 2010. Given similar climatic and management conditions, they could also be important this year.

• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) in cattle
• Pneumonia in calves related to Histophilus somni
• Acute or chronic fascioliasis in sheep –  anthelmintic resistance
• Caseous lymphadenitis in sheep

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Much of Scotland enjoyed a warm and dry April with sunshine levels well above the normal for the time of year. The north-east basked in temperatures up to 5°C above the average while rainfall was less than 40% of that considered normal for April. The west of the country was not as fortunate and here rainfall levels were at or above average. These climatic conditions were a mixed blessing for the livestock industry. Lambs and calves got a good start in the warm weather and pasture damage was minimal; however the lack of rainfall in the east meant that grass growth was slow and supplementary feeding was required in some areas. In the run up to the Scottish election there were no policy changes or announcements from Scottish Government.