Newsletter April 2002
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
We now have over 320 members, but there are still some of you out there
that need a bit of arm-twisting!
When we have approached people who have not yet joined or have not started testing, we have found that some have strange ideas as to how the scheme operates and how much it will cost. Please do not hesitate to contact Karen Tait, the OLA secretary if you have any queries.
When you join OLA you are issued with a membership number, and you then contact your vet to arrange a screen test or whole herd test, unless you have specifically asked the OLA secretary to do this on your behalf. Instructions are listed on the first page of your membership application forms.
Remember that NOW is the time to join and get testing, as the funding given to the scheme by Orkney Islands Council is only available until the end of next year.
If you have a small number of animals, you do not have to get a screen test done first. You can get all your animals over the age of 9 months tested which is classed as a whole herd test, entitling you to the 75% discount on offer.
BVD ACCREDITATION
We are delighted to announce that we now have our first BVD accredited
member. Congratulations to Northfield Farms in Burray! We will be presenting
them with their certificate at our first sale.
To qualify for accreditation you must have had two clear screen tests from your last two crops of weaned calves, and you must have vaccinated all your breeding stock or have a 3 meter boundary fence around your holding. You must also have a cattle health plan drawn up with your vet, which is classed as your "Level 1" phase of membership. This is mainly for your vet to check your vaccination programme, your farm boundary and your quarantine facilities. This will cost around £50* including the visit fee.
OLA RULES
VACCINATION
We would like to remind you about the importance of BVD prevention as well as eradication.
We feel that vaccination is the best option for keeping your own animals safe, as this eliminates the risk of BVD infection, should they come into contact with a red animal.
The BVD vaccine is injected under the skin and requires two doses, three weeks apart for the first year, and then one dose annually after that. It costs around £2* per dose - so it will cost you roughly £4* per animal the first year, and then £2* every year after.
It is best to start your BVD vaccination programme before your cows go to the bull.
When you have a clear screen test, it is very important that you vaccinate all your breeding stock (breeding cows, heifers, bulling heifers and your bull), or your farm boundary must be at least 3 meters away from neighbouring stock.
You should also vaccinate all your "white" breeding stock following a whole herd test.
If you have a positive screen test, a whole herd test should be done, primarily to find any "red" animals, and also to find out whether your animals are "white" or "green". "Green" animals do not need to be vaccinated, as they are naturally immune.
You should not vaccinate until you have had a clear screen test, or a whole herd test. If you do, you may be spending money on vaccine for animals which are already naturally immune, and worse still, you will not know if you have any "red" animals lurking in your herd.
It is vital that you eradicate BVD from your herd for the health of your own herd, as well as the health of neighbouring cattle.
It is wonderful that so many groups of neighbours have joined the scheme, but vaccination is the best way of preventing BVD infection, as it won't matter whose cattle is next to yours if you have protected your own. This is especially important for those of you that use other grazing where animals of an unknown status may be next to yours.
FIRST OLA SALE
Our first sale of OLA cattle of a known BVD health status will take
place on Tuesday 9 April 2002 at 11.30am at Orkney Auction Mart. We were
very encouraged by the number of entries received, and we have provisionally
booked a date for another sale on Tuesday 14 May 2002. Further entries will
be accepted to both.
Only animals from accredited holdings can be sold as BVD free stock. Until you have achieved this, we can only advertise animals as being of a "known BVD status".
Everyone is at different stages, so we have devised a grading system for cattle that are not in calf, and for cattle that are in calf or have newly born calves at foot. Further details will be printed in the catalogue that will be available on the day of the sale.
DAIRY FARMS
Most of Orkney's dairy farms are taking part in the BVD eradication
programme, which is essential for beef farms on the scheme looking for replacement
calves.
Remember to ask the dairy about their BVD status before you make a purchase.
AGRICULTURAL SHOWS
After missing out on our local shows last year due to the Foot and Mouth
crisis, everyone will be looking forward to them this year again. There
seems to be some confusion about OLA cattle mixing with other cattle at
the same show. OLA cattle do not require separate showing rings, or a completely
separate tie-up area of the show yard, but members should follow these instructions:
-
- Only animals of a known health status should be shown.
- Unless the animal is "green", it should be vaccinated before attending the show.
- All animals should be quarantined for 3 weeks after the event.
The above instructions are especially important for animals that are in calf.
If a pregnant "white" cow that has not been vaccinated comes into contact with a "red" animal, the cow will turn "green" but the calf inside her will turn "red". If the cow has been vaccinated, her unborn calf is protected.
BVD ERADICATION
To take part in the BVD eradication scheme, contact the secretary for
membership application forms.
Complete the membership forms and return them to the secretary with payment. Membership fees are as follows:-
Over 50 Breeding Cows = £50
10 to 50 Breeding Cows = £30
Under 10 Breeding Cows = £20
You will be issued with a membership number and you can then contact your vet to arrange a screen test. This involves randomly blood sampling 10 of your young animals over the age of 9 months. This will cost you £65* including the visit fee.
NEGATIVE SCREEN TEST
If your screen test result is negative, you should vaccinate all your breeding
stock, preferably before they go to the bull, or your boundary fence must
be 3 meters away from neighbouring stock.
POSITIVE SCREEN TEST
If your screen test is positive, you must have a whole herd test carried
out, which means that every animal on your holding over the age of 9 months
is blood tested. This would normally cost you around £10 per animal, but
Orkney Islands Council will pay the lab fees, so all that you pay for is
for the vet to take the blood samples at a cost of £2.50* per animal.
When you get the results of your whole herd test, you will need to cull any "red" animals. If you have a "red" animal under 30 months old, you can put it to a slaughterhouse, and if it is over 30 months old you can put it to the cull.
"White" animals should be vaccinated.
"Green" animals do not require vaccination, but if they are pregnant, they may be carrying a "red" calf.
After having had a whole herd test, all of your calves should be tested the following year to make sure any "red" calves that have been bom out of "green" mothers can be identified and culled. If no "red" animals are found, you should get a negative screen test the next year.
"Red" animals can be kept on the holding until such time as they are ready for slaughter (for example), as long as they are strictly quarantined, *A11 veterinary procedures are payable to your vet.