Press Release (5 September2009)

BVD Demonstration

Both politicians and farming leaders like to spout the phrase that 'this country has one of the highest animal welfare standards in the world."

But this week, a leading expert in the cattle industry poured a little cold water on that claim. Dr Basil Lowman pointed out that other European countries were well ahead of this country when it came to eradicating Bovine Viral Diarrhoea.

"We have a number of successful small schemes in Shetland and Orkney and we have individual livestock producers keeping BVD free herds, but we do not have any co-ordinated action.

"I believe if the Swedes and Norwegians can eradicate the disease and if larger countries such as Germany can push for eradication of BVD from its cattle herd, then we should be doing the same."

He did not think the disease could be removed from Scotland without the Government taking positive action. "The voluntary scheme in Orkney is 99% successful but there are still one or two producers there that have not joined up. That is why we need Government backing."

Apart from the animal welfare issues linked to BVD, Dr Lowman pointed out the massive financial loss that was occurring. He figured the average annual cost per cow to be around £36 per year.

By getting rid of the disease, that figure could be turned around to show a profit of £5 per cow - £41 swing. A number of factors reduce the profitability of BVD infected cattle. Typical symptoms are reduced growth rates, more infertility problems and abortion.

The problem for producers was the financial loss is difficult to pin point as many of the cattle spreading the disease show no symptoms.

However, these Permanently Infected stock were very efficient when it came to spreading the disease. "With these cattle in herds, the disease just rumbles on and on."

It was now possible through tissue tests on young calves as part of their ear tagging to identify if they were carrying the virus. Those that were infected could be taken out at that early stage in life.

He suggested the incentive for Government could be reducing the carbon footprint as eradication of BVD would result in a healthier, more productive national herd.

Dr Lowman was speaking during a visit to Balbuthie farm, belonging to the chairman of the Scottish Beef Cattle Association, John Cameron. The award winning pedigree Hereford herd at Balbuthie owned jointly by john and his wife Margaret, is BVD free.

Mr Cameron said this was a business decision they had taken but there had been no steer from the powers that be on the issue. The result was that some producers were happy holding the disease at bay with a vaccination programme while others wanted to go down the eradication route.

He suggested the stick for producers could be that having a BVD free herd might be part of the requirement for receiving the Single Farm Payment in the future

The whole issue of controlling BVD will come under the spotlight at this year's AgriScot event which will be held at Ingliston on the 18th of November.

Dr Lowman will carry out a practical demonstration showing producers where the problem areas are and how they can be minimised through a better understanding of how the disease is transmitted.