The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Our beef is safe, say farm leaders
BSE case at Aberdeenshire farm is first in a decade
Farming leaders are insisting Scottish beef remains safe following the first confirmed case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in a decade.
The Scottish Government has introduced movement restrictions at the affected farm, believed to be in the Huntly area of Aberdeenshire, while further investigations are carried out to identify the origin of the condition commonly known as “Mad Cow Disease”.
Adrian Ivory, who has a herd of more than 500 cattle at Strathisla near Meigle, was among those calling for calm.
“It’s always a shock when it happens, but I am hopeful that it’s an isolated case,” he said.
The government said there was no risk to human health, however it means Scotland’s BSE risk status has been downgraded from negligible to controlled.
Farm leaders have moved to reassure consumers about the safety of Scottish beef after a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was confirmed on a farm in Aberdeenshire yesterday.
The disease, commonly known as “Mad Cow Disease”, was last detected in Scotland in 2008.
The latest case was found as part of routine testing, carried out when any cow over the age of four dies on a farm.
It is believed the infected animal was a five-year-old pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cow on a farm in the Huntly area.
The Scottish Government said precautionary movement restrictions had been put in place at the farm while further investigations are carried out to identify the origin of the disease.
It stressed the incident did not pose a risk to human health, however it means Scotland’s BSE risk status has been downgraded from negligible risk status to controlled risk status – the same as in England and Wales.
Risk statuses are applied depending on how long a country has been free from BSE.
Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said: “Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Aberdeenshire, I have activated the Scottish Government’s response plan to protect our valuable farming industry, including establishing a precautionary movement ban being placed on the farm.
“While it is important to stress that this is standard procedure until we have a clear understanding of the diseases origin, this is further proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working.
“Be assured that the Scottish Government and its partners stand ready to respond to any further confirmed cases of the disease in Scotland.”
Aberdeenshire farmer Charlie Adam, who is livestock committee chairman for farmers’ union NFU Scotland (NFUS), said consumers had nothing to worry about.
He said: “Beef is still safe. The necessary checks are in place whatever our BSE status and we are acting accordingly.
“It’s no bigger a concern today than it was yesterday. We have extremely high standards of meat safety and nothing has changed.”
NFUS regional manager for the north-east, Lorna Paterson said: “It’s disappointing but not unheard of. There’s always potential for sporadic cases of BSE.
“The fact that it has been picked up is a positive because it shows the strength of the vigorous testing regime in our industry.”
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer, Sheila Voas, said: “While it is too early to tell where the disease came from in this case, its detection is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.
“We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to answer this question, and in the meantime, I would urge any farmer who has concerns to immediately seek veterinary advice.”
Food Standards Scotland director of operations Ian McWatt said strict controls were in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE.
This was echoed by Kate Rowell, the chairwoman of Quality Meat Scotland, which runs and promotes the Scotch Beef brand.
She said: “The identification of this isolated case, after such a long period without any confirmed cases in Scotland, offers reassurance that the official prevention response plan and surveillance systems in place are working effectively.”
Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers executive manager Martin Morgan said while the news was disappointing, it did not pose any health risks.
Gordon MP Colin Clark said: “We will be doing everything possible to support the farmer affected and I will also be speaking to Defra to ensure they offer the Scottish Government support, but we should be re-assured that the government has the situation in hand.”
It’s no bigger a concern today than it was yesterday. CHARLIE ADAM OF NFUS
Sir, – I read with interest the article on winter deaths (“Winter death increase ‘fuelled by cutting of the public purse to the bone’”, Courier, October 17).
The massive increase last winter in deaths of 13% in Perth and Kinross contrasts badly with the 8% rise in Fife, the 6% rise in Angus and the 3% rise in Dundee.
In my mind this is not solely due to the cutbacks in the NHS but the policy in NHS Tayside to give preference to Ninewells over PRI.
Perth and Kinross has a much larger population than Dundee and the patients have to travel further and often rely on public transport which can unfortunately mean changes from bus to bus.
NHS Tayside should take a warning from these latest figures.
The so called health lottery is bad enough but the steady rise in winter deaths all over its area shows a worrying trend.
The increase in winter deaths throughout Scotland has also followed this trend with an increase of 10%.
So in comparative terms NHS Tayside is actually doing well in the rest of its area with the increases of 3%, 6% and 8% being lower than the Scottish average.
But in Perth and Kinross the increase in winter deaths is unacceptable.
Perhaps the Perth and Kinross councillors on the joint integrated board should step up their efforts to get NHS Tayside to reverse their trend of bringing everything into Dundee and giving more attention to increasing their cover in the more rural areas it is meant to serve equally well. Elspeth Maclachlan. 122 Dunsinane Drive, Perth.