June 2, 2010
NFU Scotland urges farmers to join cattle health plan
NFU Scotland urges every cattle keeper in the country to carefully consider a government consultation for a scheme to eradicate the costly disease Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) from the national herd.
BVD is one of the most common cattle diseases and currently costs the Scottish cattle sector millions of pounds each year in terms of production losses. Disease prevention at farm level is largely based on costly vaccination programmes. The Union believes the proposals, if brought in, could see Scotland officially declared BVD-free in a few short years.
The proposed eradication scheme, announced today, June 1, would be in two stages. In the first phase, farmers would voluntarily screen their animals for the disease. By agreeing to slaughter those cattle persistently infected with the BVD virus (called PIs), they would receive some compensation. In the second phase, herd screening would be compulsory, and PIs would require to be slaughtered with no financial incentive available.
The proposal builds on work done by industry and science stakeholders over the past year, a group that has included NFU Scotland Vice-President and qualified vet, Nigel Miller.
''A BVD-free Scotland also poses questions on cross-border trading. A significant number of cattle from the rest of the UK enter Scotland each year and there would have to be monitoring of those breeding and store animals crossing the Border if we are to secure a disease-free status,'' says Mr Miller.
