Livestock Matters - Autumn 2015

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AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE LIVESTOCK MATTERS 1 8
Moving towards BVD
eradication
In addition to running training courses, over
the years XLVets has also instigated a range
of animal health initiatives which provide
the opportunities for farmers to improve
their knowledge of key diseases, welfare
issues, and the strategies required to protect
animal performance.
Currently running is BVD CHECK TAG – a
nationwide health initiative, available to
all cattle farmers. Behind the scenes, XLVets
has been working with the suppliers of the
special tissue-sampling white ear tags and
BVD vaccine manufacturers. Through the
collaboration of these companies, a single
nationwide scheme has been created that
any farmer or veterinary surgeon can access.
XLVets’ Joanne Sharpe
who manages the scheme
explains: ‘If BVD is to
be eradicated, then
vaccination alone is not
enough. It’s essential that
Persistently Infected (PI)
animals are identified and removed from
herds in order to control the disease.
‘The scheme makes it easy for farmers to
identify if newborn calves are PIs or not – by
simply fitting a DEFRA-approved white ear tag
that automatically collects a tissue sample
which is sent for laboratory analysis. A copy
of the results is also sent to the farm’s vet to
help guide strategies for disease eradication.
‘All negative test results are uploaded onto a
searchable online database, which now has
over 20,000 cattle identified on it. The
scheme is helping farmers to be proactive in
identifying and removing PIs from the herd,
and also encouraging buyers to demand that
calves are BVD-tested. This will help, over
time, to move the industry towards its target of
a BVD-free cattle population.‘
More information can be found at
.
Less lameness in sheep
Another XLVets-led health initiative is focusing
on helping sheep farmers to reduce the
prevalence of lameness in flocks. The ‘Stand
up to Sheep Lameness’ campaign was
launched at North Sheep in June.
XLVets’ farm brand
manager Gemma Ayre
explains: Sheep lameness
is often seen as part of the
parcel when sheep farming
and this does not need to
be the case, lameness
can be controlled. To make matters worse,
conditions are often not identified correctly,
and therefore some of the treatments given to
resolve lameness are in fact worsening the
problem. Everyone on the project steering
group agreed that it was important to
promote the message – ‘Do Not Trim Feet’.
‘We have collated a range of materials to
help farmers with identifying what is causing
lameness in their flock, utilising some of the
information already available through
organisations like AHDB Beef and Lamb and
FAI. We also sought out sponsorship for the
production of literature and materials from the
animal health industry.
‘So far, 30 XLVets practices have joined the
campaign, and will be holding meetings to
help farmers differentiate the different causes
of lameness and the best treatment strategies.
Some new FarmSkills courses have also been
devised, and sheep farmers can look out for
articles in the press too.‘
The White ‘BVD CHECK TAG‘
Millcroft host a farmer ‘stand up to sheep
lamness’ meeting
X L V E T S 1 0 t h
A N N I V E R S A R Y
XLVets’ latest health initiative puts the focus
on the first eight weeks of a calf’s life, and
aims to help farmers and calf-rearers ensure
that animals achieve the growth targets
required for breeding which will benefit
performance in later life.
Next…better
calf health…
For more information,
turn to pages 9-12