BVD-free, but caught a little short

Published on 21/06/2012 00:00

A WELL-INTENTIONED move requiring all cattle being exhibited at the Highland Show to have bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)-free certification appears to have caught a few exhibitors short.

A spokesman for the Highland Society, which organises the four-day event that begins today, said that while the great majority of cattle exhibitors had complied with the requirement, five had not.

Their stock had been accepted into the showground, were being tested on site and it was “not a problem”, he said.

When questioned about any possibility of cattle carrying BVD infecting stock BVD certified free, Richard Lochhead said he would deal with the matter at the show.

If retests were required, he confirmed the government would listen to representations on paying for that requirement.

Meanwhile, NFU Scotland has written to the UK secretary of state for agriculture, Caroline Spelman, highlighting the Scottish priorities it wants to be kept in mind when CAP reform negotiations gather pace.