A big change in the Scottish Government’s proposed strategy to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) from the cattle herd could be in the offing.
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller told a meeting in Perth a national screening programme could be launched as early as this winter and all confirmed incidents of the disease made notifiable by law.
It is likely the screening initiative will be financially supported by government, meaning that every herd, including all those that have already eradicated BVD and who require to undertake annual tests, could potentially benefit. The possible strategy stems from continuing discussions between government, industry and vets. It emerged as the government’s consultation on tackling BVD in the beef and dairy herds ended yesterday.
The consultation had originally touted cash support for removing so-called PIs, the animals persistently infected with the virus and which are responsible for spreading it.
Mr Miller said the touted new approach is also likely to involve the development of trading standards for breeding cattle by auctioneers for animals either certified free or vaccinated against a virus that is thought to cost the beef cattle sector £5million annually in unnecessary costs.
The suggested national screening initiative would identify those herds with problems and let the government know where the disease is. Trading or moving a PI animal, other than direct to slaughter, is likely to become an offence.
Contrary to industry misinformation the screening would involve only five calves per management group. The test would show if they have developed antibodies against the virus, a sure sign there are PIs within the herd.
Those negative would be declared BVD-free, while herds with positive results would then next year have to test individual animals to find the PIs and remove them. It may well be done by new cattle identity tags which take a notch of ear tissue that can then be sent to laboratories.
The meeting was told PIs are responsible for passing on the virus. They develop it as a foetus if their mother is infected with BVD in the first 120 days of pregnancy. These animals carry it throughout their lives, and pass it on to all their offspring who also perpetuate it.
Mr Miller said farmers buying cattle from outside Scotland would be obliged to check their BVD status. Untested animals would be allowed to move into Scotland, but they would then have to be kept inside until they had been tested and shown free.
He reiterated the union’s demand for a speedy initiative that includes a short phase voluntary programme and then compulsory action.
British Veterinary Association’s Scottish branch secretary Frank Stephen said farmers should be jumping at the opportunity to remove BVD. He deeply questioned calls from the National Beef Association for a long voluntary scheme – a move that many view as merely perpetuating the BVD problem and allowing those who have no inclination of tackling it to continue their inaction.
“It’s a strange stance from the NBA. It’s a myopic attitude,” added Mr Stephen, a vet in Thurso. “If herds are found to have BVD then there is a huge financial benefit to eradicate it.”
A meeting of the NFU’s Highland livestock committee in Dingwall earlier this week also backed a speedy eradication effort. But former regional board chairman Colin Manson, of Brodieshill, Forres, said any initiative should be compulsory from the start. “If we have a voluntary element we could still be dilly-dallying on this for years. We need to get the national picture (of BVD infection) and then go out and tackle it,” he added.
The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association is backing the eradication effort, but wants cash for both screening and to remove PIs.