Disease Threat to Dairy Herd

UK - Measures have to be taken to stop the spread of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and bovine virus diarrhoea.
calendar icon 29 September 2009
clock icon 1 minute read

Devon vet, Dick Sibley, has called for an independent livestock agency to take steps to stop the disease spread because of concern over failures by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to act.

Speaking at a conference on infectious disease at the Royal Veterinary College, Dr Sibley said that a new body was neededto control increase risk from disease being spread, according to a report in The Journal.

Figures from the British Cattle Movements Service show around 4 million cattle - half the UK herd - are moved between premises each year.

Dr Sibley said that the movement of cattle with an unknown disease status increases the risk of disease spread.

He said the situation is made worse by the concentration of cattle into larger herds as well as the vulnerability of high yielding animals to disease.

He added that a shortage of skilled stockmen and sharing workers between farms also increased the risk and the British dairy industry could be seriously hit if action is not taken, according to the report.

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