2023 Limousin Annual Journal

TECHNICAL
Promoting Herd Health at
Premier Society Sales
Maintaining good herd health is essential for the
well-being of the animals, the financial success
of the business, the safety of the public and the
health of the environment around us.
Good herd health management practices do more than
just ensure that the animals are healthy, comfortable, and
not suffering. A sick animal can lead to lost production,
decreased weight gain, and reduced carcass quality
causing significant financial losses for farmers. By
practicing good herd health management, farmers can
help prevent the spread of diseases within their herd and
to other herds. This can help to protect the health of the
entire cattle population.
These are some of the reasons why we make Herd
Health a condition of entry for all Premier Society Sales.
To protect the breed integrity and the businesses of all
farmers we make it a condition of sale that all vendors;
If you’re buying in Stock, here’s some top health tips
to help your farm stay safe:
9 Join a health scheme and know your health status
9 Don’t buy in disease. Satisfy yourself with the seller’s
health status. Don’t make assumptions.
9 Isolate and test new animals to the herd. The same
goes for animals returning to the herd.
9 Practice good biosecurity. Disinfectant isn’t only for
special occasions!
9 Vaccinate what can’t be eradicated.
9 Cull what can’t be cured.
Health rules relating to other types of Society sales
(for example, collective, breeders and regional club
sales) differ. Purchasers are always advised to consult
the catalogue, the auctioneer and the Society if in any
doubt.
9 Are a member of a CHeCS approved herd health
scheme
9 Must be testing annually for Johnes and have a level
between 1 and 4
9 Must be a BVD Accredited herd or have been tested
BVD virus free
9 Must declare the herd’s TB testing interval
9 All animals forward are BVD vaccinated
9 Information relating to IBR and Leptospirosis is also
presented as available
We also make sure that where animals are being sold
that have been previously bought from another breeder,
the Johnes status of the herd of origin is stated in the
catalogue.
All this is to protect members. Alison Glasgow, Technical
Manager at the British Limousin Society comments,
“Herd Health needs to be a conversation that we are
all comfortable to have. The Society is creating an open
environment where sellers share their health status and
buyers should feel comfortable talking to them about
it. It’s about safeguarding herds and businesses with
information that has a positive and very real impact.
CHeCS approved health schemes addressing Johnes
and BVD as a minimum:
For further information, please contact the Society office,
the relevant health scheme provider or CHeCS (www.
checs.co.uk)
136 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY www.limousin.co.uk