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SUMMER 2010 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
8
Irwin Rowe
Millvale Farm
Benefits for breeders
The first of Rosevean's clients to become fully
accredited, i.e. testing clear of the four main
diseases on the SAC Premium Cattle Health
Scheme was Irwin and Dilys Rowe at Millvale
Farm with their Bosullow Herd of Pedigree
Aberdeen Angus. Their Elite status was
achieved through hard work and planning
over a period of several years.
Irwin says, ‘We have been breeding
Pedigree Aberdeen Angus for 20 years and
after about 5 years started testing for BVD.
Working with our vet Duncan, the whole herd
was blood tested to find the status of each
animal on the farm. Due to our Elite status It is
only necessary to blood test young stock for
BVD each year.
Testing at Millvale Farm for other diseases -
IBR, Lepto and Johne’s - began about 8 years
ago, whereby all the required animals were
tested. Just yearly testing of the relevant
animals is now required.
‘We now know the status of all the animals
on the farm, and for this reason we keep
a closed herd. One of the benefits to our
customers is that they know our stock are
free from these diseases,’ adds Irwin.
Another of Rosevean's clients to become fully
accredited on the SAC Health Scheme was
Penny Lally with her herd of pedigree
Chyenhal Simmental cattle.
Penny points out that a breeder's reputation
can be ruined if their bull turns out to be
diseased and has played safe in the past
by slaughtering potentially infected animals.
A policy that has worked and maintained a
high health status for the Chyenhal herd.
Matthew explains: ‘Whilst some farms aim to
eradicate all four of these infectious diseases
- BVD, IBR, leptospirosis and Johne’s disease
- it is not always practical. For instance,
leptospirosis can also be carried by sheep,
which Penny brings in as part of her grazing
management, so it was decided to vaccinate
her cattle and not gain accreditation for this
specific disease.
B E E F F E A T U R E