Cattle disease is no laughing matter, but a cartoon helps
THERE have been many great steps forward in human and veterinary medicines over the decades and many of the diseases which used to cause problems for our forefathers and their livestock have become much rarer, if not nonexistent.
Working out what causes a disease is crucial and then sussing out a way of avoiding the infection has played a big part in getting things under control.
For many of the diseases which used to be common, this has been as easy as adopting simple hygiene practices such as washing hands and keeping sources of water well away from any sewage facilities.
For others it has been more complicated and scientists are still trying to get to the root of things.
For some, however, the scientists have managed to work out the cause but it has been a bit too complicated for the man in the street – or the man in the field – to take on board.
And there’s a big push to try to get rid of one such disease in cattle which can cause a lot of problems if it gets into a herd.
It’s known as bovine viral diarrhoea and, sparing you the details of the actual symptoms, while there’s no threat to humans, it can severely reduce the health and welfare of the animals in a herd.
Some years ago, Scotland launched a scheme to eradicate the disease from the national herd and a process of testing and then culling animals identified as carriers has vastly reduced the levels of the disease.
While most have embraced the scheme, some people have been less keen. However, compulsory testing has made it more difficult to sell infected animals and discussions are ongoing about how to encourage farmers to get rid of the few remaining reservoirs of the disease.
One option being considered is the use of a big stick – simply stopping farmers with infected herds selling their stock.
But another approach is aimed at helping people understand how the disease can still be spread over fences or where animals meet at markets and shows – and just how quickly it can infect herds which have been free.
Rather than putting things in a way which is difficult to grasp, one of Scotland’s world-famous research institutes, Moredun, has produced a 10-minute cartoon.
It’s a good wee film which explains in straightforward terms the dangers of the disease and, more importantly, how it can be controlled.
And as it helps to get the message home, it’s well worth a watch.