Fresh hope of eradicating BVD as tougher sanctions planned

The almost glacial progress towards eradicating bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) from Scotland’s cattle took another small step forward yesterday with the launch of a consultation to consider whether heftier sanctions should be placed on herds that still have carriers of the disease.

The plan aims to put responsibility and power into the hands of farmers and encourage them to eliminate BVD from their own herds.

In launching the 12-week consultation, cabinet secretary for the rural econ- omy Fergus Ewing said: “The complaint I hear most often in relation to BVD is that farmers want to see non-compliant herds penalised because they are putting the majority at risk of infection or reinfection.

“The consultation includes proposals which would make it increasingly difficult for farmers to continue to have BVD virus active in their herds, by actively inconveniencing them.

“BVD is one of the most harmful diseases of cattle in terms of economic cost and welfare, and we recognise that eradicating it requires a more holistic approach based on both stronger incentives and heftier sanctions. That is why we are supporting the industry in its continued efforts to eradicate this disease from our herds.”

NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick pointed out a significant amount of time, cost and effort had already gone into the BVD eradication programme.

“While great strides have been made by the clear majority of the nation’s cattle keepers, it is apparent from the number of persistently infected animals (PIS) being identified, that further measures that move Scotland closer to BVD free must be considered,” he said.