New Herd Health Policy At Limousin Pedigree Sales
UK - In a major extension to its herd health policies, the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) has announced that as from the 1st May 2011, herds selling at nominated premier Collective Society Sales will have to be members of, and adhering to, the terms of a CHeCS licenced Herd Health Scheme.The announcement marks a further and significant development in the Society’s long stated aim to provide the pedigree and commercial sector with cattle that combine an assured and known health status along with the highest visual and genetic quality.
Making the announcement, BLCS Chairman Jim Bloom said: “Delivering animals to the market place with a known health status is a real added value benefit to both pedigree breeders, and equally importantly, to the commercial customer and industry. Health testing and ongoing herd health management will not only improve herd health but it will also help profitability for both the pedigree breeder and the commercial beef producer alike,” he said.
“The customer reaction to both the Society’s ongoing Herd Health Initiative and its Herd Health Declarations at sale has been hugely positive. It is clear that the provision of this information has played a big part in the strong sales the breed has continued to have. Purchasers, both pedigree and commercial, want to buy breeding stock with a known health status. It is very much an expectation that this new policy will build on that principle.”
The Society’s new policy has been presented in three parts:
Part 1. That from 1st May 2011, herds selling at the premier Collective Society Sales have to be members of, and adhering to, the terms of a CHeCS approved Herd Health Scheme through either Biobest Herdcare, SAC Premium Cattle Health Scheme, HI Health, Advance Cattle Health Scheme, NML Herdwise or the AFBI Cattle Health Scheme. As with the Society’s present Herd Health Initiative, at a minimum, this must include a whole herd test for Johne’s disease.
Part 2. That from 1st May 2011, all animals male and female, including calves at foot, presented at the premier Collective Society Sales be EITHER from a BVD Accredited Herd within a CHeCS approved Herd Health Scheme OR to have been BVD tested virus free. All animals forward will require to be BVD vaccinated prior to sale with an approved vaccine. Pregnant animals must have had testing and vaccination completed prior to service. Vaccination of calves at foot to be in accordance with CHeCS guidelines and recommendations.
Part 3. That the cash-back Health Initiative refund from the Society, for herds who are members of, and adhering to, the terms of a CHeCS approved Cattle Health Scheme increases from £2 to £4 per animal for all participating herds in 2010, subject to an annual review thereafter. The £4 per animal refund is based on the number of calves registered with the Society from a given herd in the calendar year.
In the first instance, the new Herd Health at Sales policy will be introduced at the premier BLCS Society Sales in May, October & December (Red Ladies) at Carlisle in 2011, and at Stirling in October 2011. Subject to ongoing review, the policy may thereafter be rolled out at other BLCS Society Sale centres including Brecon, Dungannon, Ballymena and Aberdeen respectively.
In each area of this policy, full consideration was given by the BLCS to timings and practicalities. An early announcement of this new policy has been made to allow a period of nine months from first notification to give breeders the time and opportunity to join a scheme and to initiate their herd health testing programme.
The British Limousin Cattle Society’s announcement is seen as a highly progressive step for the pedigree genetics that are ultimately disseminated into the commercial beef production sector. It is also in line with health policy at a national level and across the EU. Scotland has already indicated its intent to implement a BVD eradication policy and this may in time be followed by Wales and England. BVD eradication programmes have also been established in various parts of Europe with some countries now declaring freedom from BVD.
Ian Pritchard, the SAC’s Premium Cattle Health Scheme Manager, welcomed the announcement and said: “The British Limousin Cattle Society has to be congratulated for this initiative. Not only will the pedigree breeder benefit but the commercial buyer will get assurance that he is buying tested stock. This announcement sends a clear message to the industry that all herds, pedigree and commercial, need to test for disease and eliminate potential problems which are likely to be costly to the business.”
In 2005, the BLCS introduced its financially incentivised scheme to encourage herds to join CHeCS approved Herd Health Schemes. This was followed in 2007 with the introduction of Herd Health Declarations at Collective Society Sales. In both instances these initiatives have proved to be popular with breeders and commercial customers. As at 1st January 2010, 28 per cent of all pedigree Limousin calves registered in the year are from herds within CHeCS approved health schemes. At the May 2010 Carlisle Bull Sale, the Society’s largest in the year, 94 per cent of vendors carried a Herd Health Declaration in the sale catalogue. The Society’s new announcement is an extension and addition to the herd health work conducted over the previous five years.
TheCattleSite News Desk