Welsh Black Herd Health Scheme - An Overview
The Welsh Black Cattle Society's Herd Health Scheme has been developed with the aim of improving health standards within participating herds, leading to certification of freedom from certain diseases of international importance such as Johne's disease, BVD., Leptospira, and IBR., but with particular emphasis on Johne’s disease.
Testing within the Welsh Black Cattle Society’s scheme is usually done through membership of the Premium Cattle Health scheme. If you wish to participate in the scheme please contact the Society at either the Builth Wells or Caernarfon office.
More details about the PCHS and the diseases involved can be obtained at www.cattlehealth.co.uk.
Pedigree breeders have traditionally, and rightly, focused on breeding for superior genetics. Today with the ability to detect disease more accurately, as a result of improved laboratory techniques, this on its own is no longer sufficient.
The purchase of breeding stock which are carrying disease is the most common way of introducing disease to a previously healthy herd. Breeders should be looking to achieve freedom from disease and gain certification as to this via a licensed cattle health scheme, thereby affording the purchaser protection from inadvertently introducing disease to his/her herd.
The Welsh Blacks are making exceptional progress with an ever increasing number of herds certified as free of one or more diseases.
To view members that are involved with PCHS please visit the link www.sac.ac.uk/pchsmemberstatus
'For up to date advice, or advice on any other aspects of the scheme please contact the WBCS office'