Veterinary Services

• Metaldehyde poisoning in grazing dairy heifers

• Louping ill identified in three beef suckler herds
• Salicylanilide poisoning suspected to cause blindness in lambs
• Enzootic paresis affects sows on a breeding unit
• “Muscovy duck pneumonitis” associated with losses in ducklings

Disease alerts

The following conditions featured in the SAC C VS report for December 2010 when heavy snow and low temperatures affected most of Scotland. Given similar climatic conditions, they could also be important this year.

• Seasonal increase in bovine respiratory disease outbreaks
• Hypothermia in neonatal calves
• Ruminal acidosis in sheep being given supplementary concentrate feeding
• Rhododendron poisoning in sheep and yew tree poisoning in a horse due to inappropriate browsing associated with heavy snow

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

September was an unsettled month across Scotland making harvesting a challenge for many farmers. Heavy rain and strong winds were experienced although it was generally fine and very warm in the last few days of the month. Concerns about fluke were justified as the mean temperature was 1.3 °C above the 1971-2000 average and rainfall in the west was up to 150% of the normal amount. 

An outbreak of American Foulbrood was confirmed in a colony of honey-bees in Inverness-shire. The movement of bees and related equipment into or out of the affected apiary was prohibited and Scottish Government urged all bee farmers and beekeepers to be vigilant for signs of the disease, to maintain good husbandry practices and to notify them of any suspicion of disease.