Workshops for disease eradication.

Byline: CATTLE ROBERT GIBSON [email protected]

MEMBERS of the NFU's North East livestock and dairy boards are joining forces to host on-farm workshops in support of the national drive to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea from all English cattle herds by 2022. The voluntary eradication programme - BVD Free England - launched yesterday, pulling together 70 organisations across the industry in a determined effort to tackle the disease. It is estimated BVD costs the industry around PS50m a year. To fight it, herds must be routinely checked, with all animals persistently infected with the disease being removed. According to the NFU's regional livestock and dairy boards, it is vital farmers across the North East get behind the scheme. Livestock board chairman Richard Findlay said: "The significant costs associated with BVD result largely from the knock-on effects of infection: reproductive issues, secondary diseases; reduced yield and growth performance," he said. "Although eradicating BVD will not be easy, this is something we can do and guarantee a real boost not just to our business profitability but importantly to the overall health and welfare of our national herd." Dairy board chairman Tom Rawson agreed: "BVD is something we all have to consider - its impact can be significant, but because of the nature of the disease it can remain 'below the radar'." The first North East event will be held Maltby Grange in Maltby, Middlesbrough, on August 4, beginning at 5pm. It will be hosted by Martin Lowcock with support from Mark Webster, of Wilton House vet clinic. A further event at Donking Rigg, Cambo, will also be held on August 18, at 5pm, hosted by Simon Bainbridge with Joe Henry of Alnorthumbria vets. The workshops are free to all NFU members. | Places can be booked by emailing [email protected] or calling 01904 451550.