Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 8th June 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

AHDB backs BVD elimination programme
cows
The RVC estimates the impact of BVD on English dairy and beef sectors to be over £11 million per year.
Supporting programme with £60,000 of funding

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is backing a major initiative to help eliminate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) by extending the existing BVD Free programme in England.

The AHDB's dairy division (DairyCo) and beef and lamb division (EBLEX) is supporting the extended programme with £60,000 of funding.

The programme is expected to be launched in England later this year, and will work closely with similar BVD programmes operating in Scotland and Wales.

The RVC estimates the impact of BVD on English dairy and beef sectors to be over £11 million per year - with the impact doubling to over £22 million in a 'worst case scenario'.

“BVD adds significant cost through its ill effects on fertility and health," says Gwyn Jones, DairyCo chairman.

"Eliminating BVD virus will not only improve health, welfare and production efficiency but contribute to our aim of reducing the need to use antimicrobials through better health.

“I passionately believe that this is a goal that is not only right for the dairy industry but is achievable if everyone works together”.

EBLEX chairman Stuart Roberts added: “Beef farmers are particularly vulnerable to the effects of BVD which can potentially wipe out one year of the productive life of beef suckler cows either because they do not get in calf or they produce a persistently infected calf which then dies before reaching a marketable weight.

“BVD elimination will not only improve individual suckler herd outputs in the short term but through less pneumonia and other health effects will yield industry-wide long-term benefits”.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.