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SAC Vets Back Eradication Programme for Cattle Disease
An Ayrshire cow (opens in new window)
SAC vets have given their support to an ambitious Scottish Government programme to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) from Scotland’s cattle herds. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead MSP confirmed the Government’s commitment to safeguarding Scotland’s high animal health status in Drymen on Wednesday 22nd September.
He said, ”ridding Scotland’s cattle of BVD will generate an additional £50 million to £80 million to the industry over the next ten years. For the average dairy business this will be worth £16,000 per year and around £2,000 to the average beef business.”
SAC Consulting, Veterinary Services Group Manager Brian Hosie said,
“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has seen fit to support this industry led initiative. For over 20 years our veterinary investigation officers have worked closely with practitioners, farmers and researchers in the Moredun Institute to learn about this important disease and the best control measures. We look forward to assisting the industry in eradicating BVD through the provision of accredited laboratory support and technical expertise”.
St Boswells based SAC vet George Caldow provided technical information for the industry submission to Scottish Government supporting BVD eradication. He said,
“BVD infection has a significant impact on the productivity and therefore efficiency of our cattle herd. Eradication of the virus will create a competitive advantage for our cattle industry and enhance our reputation as producers of healthy productive cattle within the UK and beyond”.
BVD in cattle causes abortion, infertility, failure to thrive and often death. It is present in around 40 per cent of herds in Scotland. The eradication programme will be undertaken in three stages:
The first phase, beginning on 22 September, offers subsidised screening tests for farmers of breeding herds. The Scottish Government will subsidise testing in each herd by £36 and provide a further £72 for follow up tests and advice in positive herds.
An annual testing requirement on all cattle herds will be introduced from September 2011 and, from September 2012, all cattle identified as Persistently Infected will need to be housed in secure facilities or slaughtered.
Dependent on how the disease situation progresses, a final phase could see movement restrictions introduced on herds that failed to tackle their BVD problem.
For further information please contact Brian Hosie on 0131 535 3140, George Caldow on 01835 822456, Shiela Rusbridge/Catriona Ritchie on 01224 711177 or Colin Mason on 01387 267260.