UK Cattle Disease Annual Surveillance Report (2006)
By Veterinary Laboratories Agency - This report monitors trends in the major endemic cattle diseases. The report is compiled using disease data gathered by the network of VLA Regional Laboratories.
14 March 2007
2 minute read
 January - December 2006 Published March2007 Contents Cattle Diagnostic Submissions Farm Investigational and Advisory Visits Disease Overview Food Safety Incidents Salmonellosis Bulk Milk Serology Johne’s Disease Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Fasciolosis Cryptosporidia Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Annual Mastitis Summary Scanning Surveillance for New and Emerging Diseases |
Highlights
- Mycoplasma wenyonii infection in two dairy herds
- Abomasal bloat and rupture in calves associated with Sarcina Ventriculi
- Increase in gammaglobulin monitoring of dairy calves
- New BVDV Type 2 strain identified
- Bovine Lymphotropic Herpes Virus isolated for the first time in GB
- No improvement in the national mastitis situation over the last two decades
- Signficant increase in percentage of Reproductive, Systemic and Miscellaneous Disease submissions where a diagnosis was not reached (DNR)
Cattle Diagnostic Submissions – England, Wales (VLA) and Scotland (SAC)
- Diagnostic submissions were received from all 66 mainland and island counties in Great Britain.
- For the four calendar quarters of 2006 respectively, carcases were submitted from 50, 48, 52 and 49 counties in GB.
- Over the last five years there has been a 12% reduction in total diagnostic submissions. However for the same period there has been a 50% increase in carcase submissions with their greater disease surveillance potential.
- Adult, particularly dairy cows currently account for approximately 30% of carcase submissions.
- Reasons to explain the 6.5% reduction in total submissions in 2006 as compared to the previous year would include:
- Clement weather conditions throughout the year, in both constraining parasitic disease during the summer months and enabling later housing are two of the reasons why cattle generally enjoyed comparatively good health.
Forage shortages nevertheless during the summer caused some predictable loss of production particularly in dairy cows.
- The continuing decline in number of dairy producers usually on economic grounds.
- Clement weather conditions throughout the year, in both constraining parasitic disease during the summer months and enabling later housing are two of the reasons why cattle generally enjoyed comparatively good health.
Further Information
To read the full report click hereMarch 2007
