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SAC Event in Dumfries Focuses on Challenges of Dairy Herd Health

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N52
Published: 06 May 2011

Speaking ahead of a special SAC Dairy Herd Health meeting, organised in Dumfries, Colin Mason, SAC Consulting Veterinary Services Manager in the SW, praised the efforts dairy farmers are making to maintain the health of their herds.

“Modern dairy cows are high performance animals and farmers know that to maximise that performance they must keep their stock healthy and free from disease. They can’t relax their guard though, because both the familiar foes and range of new ones are constantly seeking to gain ground. It means learning the latest lessons and thinking about strategy.” 

The SAC event, for an invited audience of vets, researchers, dairy industry specialists and representatives, will review many of the health issues facing the modern dairy business. It will also highlight the kind of health information currently available to the industry.

“The recently published debate regarding the National Dairy Cow Welfare Strategy has highlighted health and welfare achievements and challenges”, says Colin Mason.

“One concern raised is the lack of UK wide information on health and production performance. In fact there is a lot of information being collected in a number of ways. I hope this meeting will begin the process of considering how we can make better use of it in future.”

Colin Mason has assembled a group of expert speakers from within SAC, The Moredun Institute and University of Edinburgh. The event is funded by Scottish Government under the Veterinary and Advisory Service scheme.

The morning programme will address health costs and disease trends as identified by veterinary surveillance programmes. There will be a review of recent trends in mastitis and milk quality and calf mortality.   In the afternoon the focus is on particular diseases or conditions that can have a real impact on dairy herd health, welfare, efficiency and profitability.

“The knowledge about many of these is constantly changing”, says Colin Mason. “But so is the economics of their impact and their priorities for the business. I hope this overview will help give a clearer picture of where we are, what are the key challenges and why we cannot afford to let our guard down”.

Colin Mason will be available for comment before and after the meeting on 01387 267260, or mobile 07771 678064  colin.mason@sac.co.uk.

Could those in the press planning to attend the event please contact ken.rundle@sac.co.uk

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Mr Colin Mason
Veterinary Centre Manager
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work St Mary's Industrial Estate,
Dumfries
DG1 1DX
TelWork 01387 267260
Fax 01387 250028

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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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