Annual tests proposal to eradicate cattle disease

The road towards Scotland becoming free from bovine viral diarrhoea, one of the main wasting diseases in cattle became clearer yesterday with the Scottish Government proposing that there will be an annual test for all breeding herds to check the status of the disease.

BVD is a major economic drain on the industry, causing losses estimated between 50 million and 80m annually. On a per farm basis it is reckoned that BVD losses equal 16,000 per year for dairy farm businesses and around 2,000 per year for beef enterprises.

Apart from the financial boost BVD eradication could bring, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead pointed to the bonus of enhancing the international reputation Scotland has for its world-class breeding cattle, beef and dairy products. "We are among the world leaders and we want to stay there," he said.

"Eradicating BVD would be a major step forward in the economic sustainability and welfare of cattle farming and would reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from the sector."

The minister stressed the support government was getting from the livestock industry for this project and why this latest consultation is necessary.

"Industry enthusiasm has played a huge part in helping us reach this stage. But this new consultation is on the details of mandatory screening and we need to get this right. So I would encourage everyone with an interest in the cattle sectors to consider the proposal and give us their views."

Continuing the support from the industry for the BVD eradication project, NFU Scotland's animal health spokesman George Jamieson said the industry had already shown its desire to proceed down the road. "The latest consultation gives us another opportunity to ensure we get an eradication scheme that is workable and which has the backing of beef and dairy farmers up and down the country."