Rife with diseased animals....Brits must quit producing livestock....so says FWI

No Bragging Rights for the Brits Regarding Livestock Production-
between Gardiner's warnings and DEFRA's ways and means...Doom Pends.
So much for all the bulloney about British excellence. Producers got
charged all the way down the line......and now the reality of failure
on the part of people considered to be "experts"......surfaces.
Apparently, Gardiner is more right than wrong. What we witness from a
global aspect is a total breakdown of credibility on the part of the
British Veterinary Services.....they won't even consider new
technological developments, like RT-PCR, to identify diseases, let
alone use vaccination to protect animals from diseases. Very Damn
Stupid People!

No sorrow for posting this one......and I would be ashamed to associate
myself with anyone who endorses this type of moronous attitude.
Challenges? Let's hear it.

Burkie
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Vanishing vets
24/02/2006 00:00:00
Farmers Weekly
Farm vets are staring into the abyss, with nearly one fifth of
practices set to quit the sector in the next 10 years, according to a
survey conducted by Farmers Weekly.

The survey of large animal vet practices in the UK has revealed an
exodus of worrying levels, with 18% of farm animal vet practices
planning to cease practice in the next 10 years.

British Vet Association vice president David Catlow said the prospect
of losing nearly a fifth of all farm vet practices in the next 10 years
could present huge problems for farm animal health and welfare and,
more importantly, for public health.

"One of the key roles farm vets play is in disease surveillance, both
in spotting exotic disease outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth, and in
recognising the early signs of new and emerging diseases.

"Examples of this include BSE and digital dermatitis, both of which
were recognised on-farm in their early stages by farm vets.

Without vets visiting farms, the risk is that incidences of existing
diseases and emerging threats will be left unseen, presenting
increasing animal health and welfare threats and, in some cases,
threats to human health," he explained.

It is this lack of surveillance and the potential threat to human
health that are the biggest implications of a fall in farm vet numbers,
believes Royal College of Vet Surgeons president Lynne Hill.

"We must look to find a way in which some support can be given to the
farming or vet sectors to ensure vets are on-farm regularly enough to
notice disease trends or threats.

"The government appears to have forgotten the role farm vets play in
public health.

There are animal disease issues that can impact on human health, in
particular the zoonotic conditions, such as salmonella and E. Coli
0157.

"An animal health issue can quickly become a public health issue.

Unless these conditions are picked up through regular vet visits
problems will escalate quickly," she added.

Vet *** Sibley, based in Tiverton, Devon, said this active
surveillance by vets cannot be replicated by any other means.

"No matter how much we train farmers they are often too close to notice
any difference in their animals.

Sometimes they lose an animal without knowing why, but fail to
investigate further."

However, when Farmers Weekly contacted DEFRA, it seemed unconcerned
with the situation, suggesting that disease surveillance will be
unaffected by the dramatic reduction in farm vet practices.

"The survey findings do not mean our capacity to conduct effective
surveillance will inevitably be compromised," a spokesman said.

Furthermore, DEFRA believes animal welfare is unlikely to be affected,
a view contested by many in the vet profession.

But Quentin McKellar, principal of the Royal Vet College, London, said
there needs to be pragmatic decisions taken by farmers about the
economics of treating animals and where it is uneconomic to involve a
vet, an animal may have to culled rather than treated.

"We have to look at the economics of livestock farming in global terms
and tailor our service to those clients who can afford it.

The vet profession, like the farming industry, has to be efficient and
economically viable."

Mr Sibley believes this will be more important in some sectors than
others.

"There is, and always will be, a considerable demand to provide
first-aid to high-value animals, such as dairy cows.

However, in sectors where animals are worth less, there is reduced
demand for emergency cover."

For many in the industry, including Professor McKellar, this reduction
is a reflection in the falling number of farms, and hence a decline in
demand.

It is, they say, the supply-and-demand economy bearing its teeth in the
vet sector.

He believes having a more efficient and streamlined vet sector could
benefit livestock farmers.

"If those left in the industry are the ones offering the level of
service that farmers want and need, then they will be much better able
to serve the dynamic livestock farming sector that will exist in
future."



by Jonathan Long (About this Author)

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