BCVA Herd Health Working Group

LEAD: Colin Mason

• The herd health group under Oli Hodgkinson continues to actively represent BCVA in many areas. One of the main representatives is still on the Red Tractor Dairy Board and Technical Committee. The main areas of discussion this year have been on how to aid an improvement on farmer biosecurity for bought in cattle as well as continuing the work on responsible use of antibiotics without allowing the welfare of the dairy cow to suffer. We are also constantly review the Red Tractor herd health plan, bringing it in line with the other schemes and hopefully striking a balance between good welfare and practical/economic considerations for the farmer.
• Our representative Nikki Hopkins on the Red Tractor beef board has been very active in the discussion for lifetime assurance, market assurance and veterinary involvement for the health plans. Representation on the BVD free steering group in England continues to forge forward with the ultimate aim of making England free of BVD. There are monthly meetings on this where the finer details are ironed out. This is being led by AHDB. In Wales the proposal has been planned and we await the outcome of the RDP funding in Wales to see if an eradication plan can be implemented.
• Andy Barrett represents us on the Johne’s group which is led by Dairy UK.
• BCVA have continued to have a very active role in the cattle health and welfare group (CHAWG) which have released their second report. This group is a coming together of both the government and industry. This report is freely downloadable and is an excellent reference for many of the ongoing diseases which are seen on our farms.
• The dairy cattle welfare strategy is mapping out the major welfare conditions which face the industry and placing solutions on how to overcome these. Its output is a threefold poster which is available to anyone who is interested.