New initiative helping to fight hidden health problems in herds

摘要

Johne's is a debilitating and costly disease affecting about half the national beef and dairy herd, but a new project in the South West hopes to eradicate it through widespread herd testing and health planning. Johne's Disease is a major drain on theBritish cattle industry, leading to a range of health problems and sharply higher cull rates. But it is often a hidden problem, leaving many farmers fighting blind. Fortunately, a new scheme in the South West is introducing a comprehensive programme to help farmers test their herds and draw up a strategy to tackle the disease. Funded by the European Rural Development Programme, the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative has secured 5m over two-and-a-half years to challenge a range of common health issues across the region, including Johne's and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea in cattle.