Scotland launches cattle health plan to combat BVD

A cattle health initiative was launched on Wednesday (Feb 25) at the Aberdeen Spring Show at Inverurie, Scotland, with an initial target of combating the growing problem of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), a disease which can cause major financial losses in herds.

Scotland Cattle Health Improvement Plan (CHIPS) establishes a partnership between farmers and vets to tackle the disease, and is managed by a steering group such as NFU Scotland and the health schemes run by Hi-Health and Scottish Agricultural College.

It has the backing of auctioneers ANM Group and United Auctions as well as organisations such as Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Beef Cattle Association and National Beef Association (Scotland).

The steering group chairman Charlie Adam said CHIPS is a platform for farmers to help themselves on a disease that can hit cattle health and profitability.

Adam said this initiative will provide all cattle producers in the north-east with an opportunity to work with their local vet to identify if BVD is a problem on their farm, and then, if necessary, put a plan in place to control the disease through testing and vaccination.

NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller added that this launch is hugely important for the nation as it can boost cattle production in the region and it can also be a critical step towards the development of a higher health status for the whole national herd.