Bovine Viral Diarrhoea proposals backed
The Scottish government have made proposals to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), and has been backed by the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).
NFUS is behind the government's plans to help remove the cattle disease completely, which include a requirement to declare BVD status of a herd or individual at breeding sales and making it illegal to knowingly sell a persistently infected (PI) animal - PI being the initial BVD infection.
The disease, has a number of costly effects for farmers of PI cattle, which can include infertility and other reproductive disorders, premature death and fatal mucosal disease. However, it is believed that with co-operation, the disease can be eradicated.
'This consultation gives us the opportunity to legislate to stop movements of animals known to be PI and therefore posing the greatest risk of continuing the spread of the disease,' said Rob Livesey, livestock committee chairman. 'These animals are extremely infectious and this would be a great step forward in terms of disease eradication.'
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
