SCBA Condemns Decision To End Brucellosis Testing
UK - THE decision by the State Veterinary Service to end the regular testing of herds for brucellosis has been condemned by the Scottish Beef Cattle Association.
3 April 2007
1 minute read
Brucellosis causes abortion in cattle, and can be contracted by humans with nasty side effects, including a predisposition to arthritis.
It was widespread in the UK 30 years ago but has largely been eradicated as a result of a rigorous testing regime. The SVS's view is that the cost of testing far outweighs any benefit.
Keith Redpath, technical director of the SBCA, disagrees and reckons that this change of policy may put the high health status of the Scottish beef herd at risk.
He said: "This move will mean fewer vets visiting Scottish farms and it could lead to other health issues in a herd being missed. Vets carrying out brucellosis blood sampling have been known to spot that something else was amiss. Now it will be left to the farmer to alert the authorities if any abortions occur. What the SBCA would like to see is the money 'saved' by stopping the brucellosis test used for testing for other diseases such as Johne's, BVD [bovine viral diarrhoea] and leptospirosis."
Source: The Scotsman
