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Healthy Turnout At Stirling
Stirling audience (opens in new window)
A strong turnout of farmers made SAC’s Animal Health and Welfare Day, held on 26th January at West Plean farm, Stirling a real success. Over 70 turned up, taking part in sessions held on the farm in the morning and at the nearby King Robert Hotel in the afternoon.
West Plean is run by Moira Stewart and her son Nicol who are expanding their suckler cow herd numbers from 50 to 80 this year. It is a herd that was recently accredited under the SAC Premium Cattle Health Scheme, which puts particular emphasis on controlling Johne’s disease and BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea).
The morning session on the farm covered aspects of cattle nutrition and the breeding replacements with SAC nutritionist Colin Morgan and beef specialist Basil Lowman leading the presentations. West Plean is a mixed livestock, arable and grassland business, with winter and spring cereals as well as whole crop lucerne and sweet lupins. These are fed to the cattle, something not often done in Scotland. They stimulated interest during a questions and answer session led by SAC Senior Beef Specialist Gavin Hill.
After lunch in the hotel the attention turned to animal health and health planning. Farmer Moira Stewart explained the philosophy and health planning regime. Borders-based Veterinary Centre Manager George Caldow and Perth-based Veterinary Investigation officer David Gibson addressed issues surrounding BVD and Johne’s disease. Ian Pritchard, Health Scheme Manager for SAC, outlined the five point pan for increasing production in the suckler herd.
The event was part-funded by the Scottish Government through its Animal Welfare Advisory Activity.