1 February 2010

3 minute read

Europe

So far so good with bluetongue. A better vaccination strategy in Europe has reduced the risk of diseases spreading to the UK ; demonstrating again that our best defence against exotic diseases such as bluetongue and FMD is to control them better elsewhere.

Unfortunately the absence of disease may have bred complacency, with very few reports to Defra of potential bluetongue cases. To eradicate the disease we need to be vigilant, so be on the look-out for potential problems and get Defra involved if there’s any suspicion.

ADULT

Metabolic Disease

Overall metabolic disease cases declined in November, but at a lower rate than last year. Except for January and February reporting of metabolic disease has been around 50 per cent of the long term average and, with much variation around the mean, at 80 per cent of last year’s figures.

The number of reports of hypomagnesaemia was higher in November than October. This would seem surprising, as on average November reports are 70 per cent of October’s, but this is the fourth year of the 13 that NADIS has been active when cases have increased in November. The peak in November meant that autumn reports of hypomagnesaemia were 75 per cent higher than in spring; so for six out of the 13 years, autumn figures for hypomagnesaemia have been higher.

Fertility

There was a moderate decline in the number of fertility reports in November as although the number of non-detected heats remained static, there were falls in all of the other main problems. The most marked change was in anoestrus reports which fell almost 50 per cent, in complete contrast to last year when there was a marked rise in cases.

Endometritis reports decreased in November, to below the long term average. At the beginning of the year, endometritis reports were at an all-time peak, but since April, figures have only been 80 per cent of last year. Nevertheless, 2009 is still second in the list of total cases to November – suggestions as to why endometritis cases have become more common welcome.

Lameness

Overall lameness reports were also declined moderately in November. Of the main four diseases only white line disease showed an increase, although levels still remained well below last year. So far this year, except for January, reports of white line disease have remained below the levels reported last year. The high January figure is likely to be due to hold-overs from the previous December which had a precipitous decline in cases.

CALVES

In contrast to last year when there was a decrease in cases in Novemeber, last month cases followed the usual seasonal trend with the largest number of reported outbreaks since 2004. Still well below the numbers seen in the late 1990s though

Further Reading

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