30/10/2024: OPA (Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma) Pilot - Call For Further Sheep Producer Volunteers

At the request of the industry, the Scottish Government are providing financial support to the sheep industry to develop an OPA disease control programme and this pilot is now in its second year. The pilot has been developed by the industry-led Scottish OPA working group and it aims to increase the number of veterinary practitioners with proven expertise in recognising signs of OPA in live sheep through ultrasound scanning in the absence of any better diagnostic test.

One of the farmers recruited to the project hosts the YouTube channel ‘The Sheep Game’ and has made a video about OPA scanning while their vet was out scanning: WE HAVE OPA! (youtube.com). There is also a video about scanning produced by Moredun: Research in a Nutshell - OPA Control (youtube.com).

Sheep keepers will benefit through earlier diagnosis and interventions allowing for affected animals to be culled and removed from flocks at an earlier stage. Compensation payments are being made to farmers for the removal of animals which will be used for the collection of tissue samples for definitive diagnosis to validate the ultrasound scanning technique and for future studies such as development of a new live diagnostic test.

If you know of any farms that would be interested in being involved in the pilot project there are still some limited spaces available. If you are willing to participate in this pilot and have your flock scanned for OPA please contact Chris Cousens at the MRI (chris.cousens@moredun.ac.uk).

03/09/2024: Bluetongue critical industry webinar 4th of September

With the changing bluetongue situation, all farmers, vets and stakeholders are urged to join a critical industry BTV-3 webinar Wednesday 4 September from 3-4pm to get the latest updates and advice from experts. Register today via: https://bit.ly/3AJzxlq

Webinar Flyer

  • If suspicion of notifiable disease it is to be reported through the correct channels.
  • There are NO restrictions on vets attending farms where BTV3 is  confirmed/suspected. This is midge born virus. 
  • Treatment is important – recent article In practice by Fiona Lovatt, Rachael Tarlinton, Margit Groenevelt. LINK to the article 

Bluetongue situation is changing rapidly and More information on the current situation can be found here and on Bluetongue Virus – Ruminant Health & Welfare (ruminanthw.org.uk)

18/06/2024: Royal Highland Show 20-23 June 2024

Come and visit ScotEID at the Royal Highland Show.

The ScotEID Technical team are supporting Scottish Governments consultation on CattleEID in Scotland so if you have any questions please come along and see us. There will be help available to complete the consultation online or we will have paper copies to take away. The ScotEID Information Centre team will be there to help with any ScotMoves+, BVD, Sheep and Pig queries.

You can find us on the 7th Avenue, we look forward to seeing you there.

03/06/2024: Reminders to cattle keepers

Exhibiting at Shows - For cattle attending livestock shows, please record a ScotMoves+ Off Movement to the Show CPH. Upon submitting the movement you will be asked if you would like to record the return movement also. A full how-to guide can be found here.

Cattle moving to grazing - please record your 'within business' cattle movements if you move cattle to additional holdings for grazing.

Cattle deaths - please record all cattle deaths on ScotMoves+ and post back the passports for cattle that have died on farm or are missing/presumed dead. Fallen stock companies do not record cattle deaths on your behalf.

 

Thank you from the Help Team - 01466 794323

05/04/2024: Scottish Government cattle identification and traceability consultation

The Scottish Government is seeking views on proposals to change the cattle identification and traceability regime within Scotland.

We would encourage all parts of the supply-chain to respond to the consultation.

Consultation Document 

Consultation on cattle identification and traceability in Scotland

Report on using UHF for cattle EID

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment


ScotEID welcomes the Scottish Governments consultation on cattle identification and traceability, particularly the element around the electronic identification of cattle.   Bovine EID provides improved reporting accuracy and real time reporting, which are crucial in the event of a notifiable disease outbreak.  It  also offers the chance to remove the need for cattle passports.