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B V D C A S E S T U D Y
Stevie Hay
East Howe Farm, Birsay
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First infection 1999
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8 cows aborted, 5 barren
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Subsequent calf deaths
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Weak surviving animals
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Round the clock treatment
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Increased vaccination costs
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Large financial losses
BVD EFFECTS
AT EAST HOWE FARM
From a position of little knowledge of the disease 10 years ago, the harsh
realities of BVD infection have left a permanent impression with suckler
cow producer, Stevie Hay.
Case Study:
East Howe Farm
He's convinced that his then 65-cow herd
became infected from a group of bought
cows in 1998 and says the disease spread
through his entire herd like 'wildfire'.
More used to the odd death or barren cow,
the spring calving of 1999 highlighted the
true extent of BVD infection when 8 cows
aborted and a further 5 were barren.
Furthermore, many calves born were very
weak and had severe scours. ‘They required
round the clock attention and treatment.
However, despite all our best efforts, four
died after several days while the rest
remained poor and ill-thriving,’ says Mr Hay.
‘It was at this point that the alarm bells started
ringing. We'd never seen anything as bad
as this before. We called in Iain McCulloch
from Northvet to help and his actions quickly
identified we had a serious BVD infection.’
Further laboratory testing helped confirm
Mr McCulloch's prognosis. A robust
vaccination programme followed, which
is still being adhered to. Because of the
problems experienced by the East Howe
herd, Mr Hay contacted the Orkney Livestock
Association to learn about the group’s plan
to eradicate BVD throughout Orkney.
He signed up for membership immediately,
became a steering group member and also
encouraged other farms to join.
With his two brothers, Stevie Hay also runs
a stubble-to-stubble contracting business
and sells barley and straw, which means
he regularly comes into contact with many
other farmers.
‘Thankfully, the vast majority of farmers signed
up to the health scheme and have benefited
from the hard work of OLA and Northvet's
Iain McCulloch who helped drive the project
forward. It is very important farmers use all
the skills of their vet. They're up-to-date with
the latest knowledge and medicine. We have
a great relationship with Northvet as I know
most farmers do.’
Under the scheme, a full herd test at East
Howe was completed in 2001. Just a
single animal registered positive with the
disease and this was immediately culled
and recorded.
Farming on the North West coast of Orkney's
mainland at Birsay, East Howe Farm extends
to around 170-acres while a similar amount
of ground is rented offering grazing and
feed for the 100-cow Aberdeen X and
Limousin X herd.
Males are sold at store sales at Orkney
auction mart while heifers are fed on
home-grown barley, silage, haylage with
dark grains and sugar beet pulp and grown
on to 550kg for sale to Orkney Meat
in Kirkwall. The business now operates an
almost entirely closed-herd policy. However,
some breeding cows are bought through BVD
free accredited local sales.
Working with Northvet, Mr Hay's farm animal
health plan also includes tackling Johnes
disease through regular blood testing. He
admits it's going to be tough to eliminate
from the herd, but that the herd health plan
is helping. Looking back to when BVD first
hit East Howe farm, Stevie Hay is adamant
that he never wants to relive the whole
situation again.
‘I don't want to go through the events of
1999 ever again. It's important that we
continue working together to keep our herds
BVD free.’
Stevie Hay
SPRING 2010 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
14