The Scottish Government, working with the BVD Advisory Group, are consulting on ‘phase 5’ of Scotland’s BVD eradication scheme. Since the introduction of Scotland's BVD eradication scheme the level of exposure has dropped significantly. The reduction is due to great efforts by cattle keepers and their vets to test cattle, identifying sources of BVD infection and removing them.

The BVD Advisory Group have agreed that there should be further restrictions on not negative herds to prevent disease spread. Particularly focusing on keepers that continue to retain PI animals or seem content not to investigate the cause of their not negative status.

Farmers’ views are essential to shaping this next phase 5. The consultation information is available at:
https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/the-bovine-vir...

Or, telephone the ScotEID office on 01466 794323 for a printed copy of the consultation document.

The deadline for entering the calving data for calves born between 1st January to 1st June 2017 is approaching. The calving data includes entering; ease of calving, calf size, and calf vigour. Please ensure that your calving data is complete and you have entered reasons for your disposals by the 15th July 2017.

There are now 3,600 keepers registered on ScotMoves, who have recorded 7,900 additional holdings. Movements recorded on ScotMoves now exceed 220,000 – about 10,000 recorded movements each week since its launch on the 1st January 2017. Recording this information centrally on ScotMoves supports the whole beef industry by accurately recording where all Scottish cattle are currently located, now moved onto springtime grazing. The system aids disease control and eradication - such as BVD where the system accurately records the location of PI cattle. Many thanks are due to cattle farmers who are registered on ScotMoves for their continuing support and feedback, which helps us improve ScotMoves, to ensure the system meets the needs of the beef industry and Scottish Government.

When ScotMoves receives calf registration details from CTS, ScotMoves will automatically make an initial allocation of the calf to be on the holding along with its mother*. This is the case whether the mother is on the main holding or an additional holding.
Following ScotMoves initial allocation of a newly registered calf, when mother and her calf are moved to another holding on ScotMoves, you must also record the movement of the calf. ScotMoves does not automatically record the movement of a calf when it's mother is moved.

* If a calf is no longer with its mother when the CTS registration is made, e.g. a separated twin, on ScotMoves you must allocate the calf to its actual holding if different from its mother’s holding.

ScotMoves was successfully launched on the 1st January with full help-desk support. Over 2,600 cattle keepers have since registered their main holdings along with the additional holdings they are using to keep cattle. Since going live, ScotMoves have recorded over 70,000 cattle movements between within-business holdings and the number of movements is currently around 10,000 per week. This number is expected to rise significantly in the spring time when cattle begin moving out of their winter accommodation. The new system is a success in terms of knowing centrally where all Scottish cattle currently are, which will aid disease control, disease eradication and public health.

If you currently have cattle on linked holdings (or will have on the 1st January 2017) and you have not yet returned your ScotMoves Application Form, you must do so immediately. If you did not receive a form from ScotEID, please click on the link to download a form, then complete and post, fax, or scan and email back to ScotEID. ScotMoves will be available online from the 1st January to those that have registered.

ScotEID will be open on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of January 2017.

Tissue tagging lists are now available from on the ‘tagging’ tab on BES. If there is no tab available, then for the period 1st Jan to 1st Jun 2016, none of your calves have been selected for the genotyping tissue tags. If you require more information, please contact RPID on 0300 300 2222 or BESMailbox@gov.scot.

All sheep & goat keepers should have received an Inventory or Survey either by email or in the post, please complete, as soon as possible. The best way to do this is online. The link and password are in your email or printed on your form. If you are a sheep or goat keeper but haven’t received a form, please check your emails. Otherwise please contact the Scottish Government at 0300 244 9725 (ScotEID cannot issue the emails or the forms).

More information is available at www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Agriculture-Fisheries/Publications/SGAI-DAS

Due to increasing functionality, we are committed to regularly reviewing our Website Terms and Conditions and Data Protection Policy. Amongst other updates they now provide for ScotMoves.

Scottish Government have announced a replacement for the current CTS Links System. The new system is called ScotMoves and will be hosted here on ScotEID.
Further information