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B V D C A S E S T U D Y
Major MalcolmMacrae
Binscarth Farms, Finstown
Maintaining a high health status for his 150-cow Simmental X Aberdeen
Angus herd was the driving force behind Major Malcolm Macrae's
decision to be part of Orkney's BVD eradication scheme.
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Infection seen in 2006
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Major vaccine breakdown
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Disease contracted from
neighbouring herd
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10 store animals culled in 2007
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Lost BVD free status
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Huge cost to business
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Switched vaccine use
BVD EFFECTS
AT BINSCARTH FARMS
Case Study:
Binscar th Farms
‘When the scheme was first suggested in
2001, I was confident my herd didn't have
BVD infection as no clinical signs had been
observed. But it was the right thing to do, to
support this island-wide health initiative,’
recalls Major Macrae.
Testing of the entire herd at Binscarth
Farms, Finstown, confirmed his belief,
when each animal was passed BVD free
and subsequently became accredited. As
a precaution, animals where vaccinated
and the herd was given a clean bill of
health over the next three years.
However, a disastrous breakdown of the
product being used to vaccinate stock
coupled with contact of infected animals from
a neighbouring herd quickly undid several
years of treatment and biosecurity.
A single reactor was found in 2006. But in
the following year 10 animals reacted to the
annual test and were quickly isolated and
recorded as red under the scheme. However,
the health deteriorated quickly in some
animals and eventually all had to be
slaughtered costing at least £10,000.
‘We did everything we were supposed to that
was set out in a farm health plan by Northvet.
Our herd had been closed since the days of
BSE and we take biosecurity very seriously.
I just hadn't banked on a major vaccine
breakdown. We thought the herd was
safeguarded. It was both very annoying
and costly,’ he explains.
‘The whole experience hit us hard financially
and what's more we lost our BVD disease free
status. We hope to gain accreditation again
in 2010 following more tests.’
Despite the setback, Major Macrae is fully
supportive of farm health planning and the
BVD eradication scheme led by Orkney
Livestock Association and Northvet.
‘Getting free of BVD would be a fantastic
achievement and help enormously in
marketing our stock. Orkney farmers are
good at working together and what the
OLA has done has been first class.’
Based on the west side of the main island,
Binscarth Farms extends to 1,500 acres of
grassland, arable and permanent upland
pasture. Home-grown crimped barley is fed
to the herd, with silage plus dark grains and
some minerals.
Calving is predominately during the
spring with stores and fattening animals
produced from both Aberdeen Angus and
Charolais bulls.
Under the farm's animal health plan, Johne's
disease is also being tackled following advice
by Northvet.
Major Malcolm Macrae
15
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...