Scottish Government seeks advice on BVD eradication
The British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) is advising its members to respond to a Scottish Government consultation on the third stage of its bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) eradication scheme in Scotland.
The scheme is composed of four stages:
Stage 1: Subsidised screening - which ran from September 2010 to April 2011 and involved the Scottish Government providing £180,000 towards testing herds for the disease;
Stage 2: Mandatory annual screening - which requires all keepers of breeding cattle to screen their herds for BVD by February 1, 2013, and annually thereafter;
Stage 3: Reducing the spread of infection - where the Government is now consulting, proposing measures such as a ban on selling persistently infected cattle and restricting movement on herds that are not free of BVD; and
Stage 4: Biosecurity controls - which could include the use of double-fencing or housing for those herds that have a persistent BVD problem.
The Scottish Government is keen to seek the opinions of those farmers and veterinary professionals who have a specific interest in the eradication of the disease. They have advised any responses given should carefully consider the details of the proposals, as every answer could have a direct impact on any legislation required to enable stage 3 of the scheme.
To respond to the consult, please visit the Scottish Government’s website.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
