Veterinary Services

• Renal dysplasia and nephrosclerosis in a three-month-old suckler calf
• Dicrocelium dendriticum infection in hoggs from the Western Isles
• Rickets type osteodystrophy and osteoporosis in fattening pigs on a commercial unit
• Pericarditis, perihepatitis and splenomegaly associated with Salmonella Enteritidis in pheasant chicks

Disease alerts

The following conditions featured in the SAC C VS reports for August and September 2010. Given similar climatic and production conditions, they could also be important this year:

• Salmonellosis in cattle due to S Dublin and S Typhimurium, and in pigs due to S Typhimurium
• Blue-green algae (cyanobacterium) toxicity on a dairy farm
• Parasitic bronchitis in grazing cattle
• Sudden deaths due to hypomagnesaemia in adult cattle
• Parasitic gastroenteritis in lambs seen in association with deficiencies of trace elements

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

June was an unsettled month for much of Scotland with showers or longer spells of rain a feature. As a result some areas recorded over 150% of the average rainfall. Sunshine durations were generally close to normal however it was the coolest June since 2001. The impact of this wet weather on animal health could be far reaching if silage quality is compromised as a result.

Scottish Government announced that mandatory screening is to be introduced in Scotland as the next step in eradicating BVD. From 1st December 2011 farmers with breeding cattle herds will be required to screen their herd each year for BVD with all herds having had their first test by the end of November 2012.