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SAC Warning Over Maedi Visna Complacency – Rise in Flock Breakdowns

SAC News Release Ref. No: 10N66
Published: 07 Sep 2010

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SAC vets have published a letter in their professional journal The Vet Record, alerting veterinary practices and their farmer clients to a worrying increase in Maedi Visna infection in sheep flocks. In the year to July there have been 11 breakdowns amongst flocks in the MV Accreditation Scheme. Previous routine tests of sheep in the scheme identified an average of just 3 a year.

In the letter SAC urges flockmasters to consider their biosecurity, especially since infection has also been found in a group of sheep during their first qualifying test to join a MV accredited flock. The breakdowns involve sheep from Texel, Charollais, Zwartble, Clun Forest, Border Leicester, Mule and Beltex cross breeds. The Breed societies are taking SAC’s warning seriously.

“This is a wake up call for sheep farmers” says Lewis McClinton, Chief Executive of the Suffolk Sheep Society, “MV is the kind of disease that is hard to spot and can cause great damage. The increasing rate of MV breakdown in 2010 is a worrying trend but demonstrates the effectiveness of detection in the accreditation scheme.  I would strongly advise pedigree flocks to participate in the MV Accreditation scheme and urge commercial ram buyers to source rams from Accredited Flocks”.

A voluntary British MV Accreditation Scheme has existed for over 20 years. Run by SAC it provides a ready source of certified virus-free animals. It involves some 2,500 member flocks, offering accredited sheep from 64 different breeds. Fully supported by the Breed societies, particularly the elite flocks which supply breeding replacements to commercial farmers, it is probably the reason British MV levels have remained low.

According to Brian Hosie, SAC Consulting, Veterinary Service Manager, MV is not always something practice vets think of when presented with a problem flock. 

“Despite feeding, sheep with MV infection lose condition, some will abort lambs and others may die. Many things can have affects like these on sheep so MV is not always on any vets radar”.

However with so few major outbreaks some producers have taken the view that the threat posed by MV is not serious. 

For Brian Hosie such an attitude could have devastating results.

"If this view was to prevail and the currently high membership of the scheme was to decline, there is every reason to suspect that MV would have the impact here that it already has on the continent".

His view is supported by the Texel Breed Society and Chief Executive John Yates.

"The Texel board of Directors have always maintained the value and importance of the MV scheme to their 2000 strong Society Membership, and encourages members to maintain a vigilant approach to flock health management. The increase in breakdowns of MV across all breeds is concerning, perhaps due to the recent negative press on the scheme and complacency by some PS&GHS members who have felt there is little risk to their flock health. The Texel Society will continue to encourage and publicise the value and benefit of maintaining a high health flock which includes membership to the PS&GHS MV Accreditation Scheme".

Brian Hosie urges farmers to take note of the story told by Isle of Wight farmer Andrew Hodgson, the owner of a 1500 ewe commercial flock, who has estimated that MV reduced his flock’s output by 20-40% at a cost of £30,000-£50,000 a year.

For more information Contact Brian Hosie at brian.hosie@sac.co.uk or 0131 535 3139, or Ian Pritchard, PSG Health Scheme Manager, 07970 691726.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Mr Brian Hosie
Veterinary Services Group Manager
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Consulting: Veterinary Services, Allan Watt Building, Bush Estate,
Penicuik
EH26 0QE
TelWork 0131 535 3140
MobileWork 07803 222366
Fax 0131 535 3322

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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