Welcome to the Orkney Livestock Association website. Here you can find information about the organisation and what we do along with guidelines for testing and requirements for health status sales.
Orkney is made up of a main island with smaller islands to the north and south. Farming land is green and fertile, but our winters are long, with most of the cattle here being housed at the end of October to the beginning of May. Agriculture is one of the main industries along with fishing and tourism.
OLA is a farmer led health scheme for Orkney farmers and is the largest of HI Health's sub groups. It was launched on 01 February 2001 with a programme to eradicate BVD from Orkney's cattle herds. You may think that it is easier for us to eradicate disease being in an island situation but Orkney has the highest density of cattle in Europe with approximately 30,000 suckler and dairy cows, so it is literally wall to wall cattle with most boundaries consisting of barbed wire and fencing posts. Orkney Islands Council gave financial assistance towards the laboratory testing of infected herds from 2001 to 2004. Over 45% of herds showed evidence or recent exposure to the disease and although it has not been eradicated completely, the incidence is now below 5%.
The first ever sale of BVD known status cattle in Britain took place in Orkney Auction Mart in April 2002 and these sales have increased over the years and currently almost all breeding stock sold have accredited status.
In 2005 we were awarded the contract to administrate our parent company HI Health Ltd which is Scotland's largest and only farmer led cattle health scheme. More information on our development of this organisation and the services provided can be found at www.hi-health.co.uk.
On 01 November 2008 the OLA Johne's eradication scheme was launched. Due to our ongoing success with the BVD scheme, Orkney Islands Council agreed to pay all laboratory fees for the next three years, which could potentially cost them £120,000 per year. We are truly grateful for the support our local authority has provided.
Both OLA and HI Health are unsubsidised, non-profit making companies operated solely from the memberships received. The financial assistance from Orkney Islands Council goes direct to the OLA member. None is retained by the organisation.
Office Bearers
Chairman - Michael Cursiter, Arwick, Evie
Vice Chairman - George Rouse, Littlequoy, Burray.
Company Secretary - Karen Tait, Unit 7, Orkney Auction Mart, Kirkwall
Technical Advisor - I McCulloch, Northvet, 33 Junction Road, Kirkwall
Board Members
Alistair Foubister, Netherton, Holm
Colin Davidson, Skaill Farm, Sandwick
David Scarth, Twatt Farm, Birsay
George Brown, Colligarth, Sanday
Phyllis Harcus, Messigate, Tankerness
William Harcus, Quanterness, St Ola
The OLA office is manned by Karen Tait and Joyce Henry from Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm except during festive holidays and on occasion when they are in attendance at meetings elsewhere.