Single body to track major cattle ailments

By Marianne Curtis

CONCERNS that the UK is falling behind Europe on cattle health improvement and the high cost of major non-statutory diseases has prompted the launch of a new industry body to monitor cattle health.

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS), launched last week, is an umbrella organisation which will unify standards between existing cattle health schemes for the major non-statutory diseases – BVD, IBR, leptospirosis and Johnes Disease.

CHeCS has been pump-primed by the Milk Development Council and running costs will be met from fees charged to participating health scheme laboratories.

Consistently high standards are required for UK cattle health schemes to achieve credibility at home and abroad, according to CHeCS chief executive Adam Duncan.

“Other European countries are currently well ahead of the UK in control and eradication of major non-statutory diseases.

“Denmark is free from IBR, while Holland, Germany and Belgium have schemes in place for long-term eradication of IBR.”

But Cheshire-based vet Dennis Leonard believes comparisons with Europe give a misleading picture.

“Many European countries have small herds which are geographically isolated – especially in Scandinavia – making disease eradication easier than in the UK.”

Controlling diseases through vaccination is more important that eradication, he adds.

“Some schemes are badly designed without provision for vaccination. Unless biosecurity can be guaranteed, a disease may arrive on farm and vaccination is the only answer.

“In areas such as Cheshire, units are close to each other and there is considerable movement of stock so it is difficult to guarantee biosecurity.

“Also, cows from disease-free herds can suffer badly when they enter commercial units due to lack of immunity.”

But George Caldow, manager of SACs Premium Cattle Health Scheme – instrumental in formulating CHeCS standards – believes the industry needs to take cattle health schemes seriously.

“The cattle industry needs to shake itself. Diseases such as BVD and IBR are already a barrier to trade at herd level and will also be a barrier when we can export live cattle again.

“Europeans are setting the pace on cattle health, are better organised, and more technically aware.”

Boosting buyer confidence will be a key attribute of CHeCS, believes Livestock Auctioneers Association spokesman John Martin.

“Providing scheme standards are set at the right level – which is difficult to define – the value of cattle could increase through membership of a health scheme.

“CHeCS should give buyers confidence. I expect pedigree producers will become involved initially, then it will trickle down to commercial producers.”

However, commercial producers are already using health schemes as a means of eradicating disease from herds, according to Mr Caldow.

“Many commercial producers approach us with the objective of eradicating a disease and leave the scheme once this has been achieved.”

Companies offering cattle health schemes include SAC, Biobest Laboratories, Compton Paddock Laboratories, Livestock Services and Axient Laboratories.

Mr Caldow says SACs health scheme covers BVD, IBR, Johnes disease and Lepto.

Membership costs £100, which covers one disease, plus £15 for each additional disease.

“For accreditation or eradication, every animal must be blood sampled costing £3.50/disease an animal.

“Few herds need to be checked for all four diseases and most who opt for testing know the disease status of their herd.

“BVD and Johnes Disease, particularly, can have a severe financial impact on suckler herds.”