BVD uncovered
in Online ‘Ask The
Expert’ Sessions
Police warning to
dog owners following
attacks on sheep
POLICE have repeated warnings to dog
owners following a spate of attacks on
sheep.
Derbyshire Police said it was appealing for
witnesses after a dog killed one sheep and
injured two others in Stanton Lees, Matlock.
PC Simon Wolverson, from the Tideswell,
Litton, Baslow and Beeley Safer
Neighbourhood Team, said:
“We are urging dog owners to act
responsibly and keep their dogs under
control around farm animals; especially
as lambing season is set to get underway.
These types of incidents cause a lot of
distress to animals.”
The force said it would put posters and
signage up around the area to reinforce the
message over the next few weeks.
Calving safety warning
following farmer death
FARMERS are being
encouraged to think carefully
about health and safety as the
main spring calving season
gets underway...
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), NFU
Scotland and the Scottish Beef Association
urged cattle producers to consider how they
could reduce the potential dangers, which
regularly result in injuries and sometimes
fatalities, at this time of year.
It comes after a 62-year-old woman died
earlier this month as she helped a cow to
calve in Bixter on Shetland.
Charlie Adam, chairman of NFU Scotland’s
livestock committee, who is currently
calving about 100 suckler cows, said:
“Each farmer knows his own animals and
set-up in terms of handling facilities and
equipment but it is important they take time
to identify the risks now before the tiredness
of calving kicks in and judgement can be
impaired.
“It is always worth just taking a moment
to think through the possible scenarios
before jumping in to deal with even what is
a simple intervention and to consider your
own safety as well as the wellbeing of the
cow and calf.”
Mr Adam said in many cases the best
advice was to make sure there was someone
around to help.
However, he added this was not always
possible.
“It is also worth bearing in mind that in
some cases cows may be unsettled by an
unfamiliar person getting involved,” said
Mr Adam.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
principal Inspector Niall Miller said one of
the greatest risks farmers faced was when
they were working alone with calving cows
and young calves in an open field.
“If farmers have no choice but to work
alone with recently-calved cows they should
ensure that they take steps to make that a
safer experience,” said Mr Miller.
“If possible they should stay close enough
to a suitable vehicle that can provide
protection if a situation emerges and they
should ensure they have their mobile phone
with them so they can summon help if
needed.”
Mr Miller said the danger was frequently
not just from the recently-calved cow but
from the other animals in the herd becoming
agitated.
He also pointed out that mid-way through
the calving period when farmers and farm
staff were getting tired was a high-risk time
for mistakes to be made.
Kent Police said it was investigating after
a dog killed six pregnant ewes in what the
farmer believes was a deliberate attack.
Hilary Macnamara said she thought the dog
had been released into the enclosed sheep
pen to ‘train them’ for future attacks.
Anyone with any information about
either attack is asked to contact police
via 101.
Dairy and beef farmers will have the
opportunity to put their key questions about
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) to disease
expert Dr Richard Booth MRCVS during
two interactive webinars in April. These will
cover the following key topics:
* 15th April - How do you know if BVD is
affecting your herd?
* 22nd April - How can you achieve a BVD
free herd?
Dr Booth, a cattle vet who is currently
lecturing in infectious cattle diseases at
the Royal Veterinary College London, has
been involved since 2006 with an extensive
research project on what is one of the most
widespread and potentially devastating
infectious diseases for UK cattle herds.
Through his work, he has become one
of the leading authorities on all aspects
of BVD, including its transmission, the
impact on farms, and methods of control
and eradication. The 30 minute interactive
online sessions take place from 7pm and are
free to any dairy or beef farmers that register
at www.msd-animal-health-cpd.co.uk.
All farmers that register will also receive
a free recording of their webinar.
The webinar programme is being provided
by MSD Animal Health, manufacturer
of BOVILIS(r) BVD, which has been
proven for over 15 years in the field and is
the UK’s most widely recommended BVD
vaccine1.