Animal Health and Welfare General Stakeholder meeting – 31 October 2016

Disease surveillance presentation was given by a Brian Hosie. BTV still occurring in Central France, so far not spreading north. Vaccine is available but no demand.

This year there has been more cases of lead poisoning, source from batteries, put down to poor housekeeping on farms. Schmallenberg virus last seen on Scotland in 2013.

Sheep: There is a high risk forecast for Liver fluke this winter in Scotland. Advice is to treat now.

Deer: Chronic Wasting Disease is usually in North America but has emerged in Norway. Same category as scrapie. Sampling will monitor this in UK.

TB update was given by Martin Blissett
7 new cases in Scotland, 4 from NI, 1 from England, other 2 unknown.
£30m comes from EU to England and Wales to compensate for TB cases found. England slaughtered 29000 cattle in 2015 under TB powers.

Ian Murdoch confirmed situation regarding SRM controls in the event of Scotland attaining BSE negligible risk status. This is likely to take 12 months to go through. Northern Ireland has also applied for BSE negligible risk status. EU have confirmed that Scotland and NI would be categorised as zones. Stressed that this is just first milestone on a long route.

If Scotland got BSE Negligible Risk status then the definition of SRM applying to animals originating within the Scottish region would change to that in point 2 of Annex V of the TSE Regulation – Specific requirements for Member States with negligible risk status – Tissues listed in point 1.(a)(i) and 1.(b), which are derived from animals whose origin is in Member States with a negligible BSE risk, shall be considered as specified risk material. How zones will work in this context is unclear.

SAMW asked where we were with the Splitting of Sheep controls. Defra have submitted a paper to Brussels. It would be important to have this resolved prior to the next hog season.

Penny Johnston of NFUS gave an industry update. Farm payments are still a problem. Prices have improved though not great, eggs the biggest problem. Supermarkets stating change to Free Range is concerning. Fallen stock uplift is also becoming difficult.

Professor George Gunn presented on EPIC (Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks). EPIC looks at moves to counter outbreaks such as FMD, Swine Fever, Avian Flu and Bluetongue with built in surveillance. Has pulled together all the resources to best give advice on incidence of outbreaks. Prime achievement was research teams working together.

Scott McDowell explained the new CTS (Cattle Tracing System) and ScotMoves. From 1st January 2017 movement of cattle between holdings within a business will need to be recorded using the system called ScotMoves.

Date of next meeting January 2017 TBC