Location of Shetland Shetland CLA Control Programme Hilary - PDF document

Location of Shetland Shetland CLA Control Programme Hilary Liebeschuetz BVM&S MRCVS MA Statistics Aims of Scheme • Protect Shetland ’ s high animal health status. • Total Breeding ewes and gimmers 152,705 • Utilise Shetland ’ s remote island location to • Total Sheep 283,750 enable Shetland farmers and crofters to • Approximate annual imports sheep 400 produce and market cattle and sheep of high • Total sheep slaughtered: 8,047 health status. • Total sheep exported: 73,651 • Improve the welfare of Shetland ’ s livestock. • Number of vet practices 1 • Continue to tackle new disease threats as they occur. Shetland in Statistics , 2009 Sheep Cattle • Sheep Scab • BVD • EAE • Johnes • MV • CLA • Worm control 1

Timeline of CLA Scheme • Pre 2007 clinical inspection plus culture • 2008 repeat CLA test 6 months post of swabs from suspicious abscesses import • Summer 2007 industry consultation on • 2009/2010 LEADER funding for CLA control options Shetland CLA breeders scheme • Autumn 2007 onwards blood testing of imported sheep • 2007 onwards education programme to increase awareness of CLA 2

CLA Import Testing Results Breakdown of Rams by Breed Rams Cheviot Lleyn Suffolk Texel Others Unknown Total Imports Total CLA % CLA - + - + - + - + - + - + positive Positive 2007 33 0 6 0 192 5 47 0 8 0 0 0 2007 291 5 1.72 2008 21 0 7 0 189 10 78 2 13 0 51 5 2008 376 17 4.52 2009 16 0 15 0 104 0 57 1 8 0 203 6 2009 410 7 1.71 2010 24 0 10 1 221 5 71 1 23 0 0 0 2010 356 7 1.97 Percentages of flocks importing Female Imports CLA +ve testing rams Year Number of Number of Percentage of Total CLA +ves on Total number different flock flocks with at flocks with at import imported numbers of least 1 CLA +ve least 1 CLA +ve rams at import 2008 0 54 2007 89 5 5.6 2008 139 10 7.2 2009 1 66 2009 101 4 4 2010 0 25 2010 179 6 3.3 CLA Re-test Results Positive Outcomes of the Scheme • Reduced number of CLA positive sheep imported to Shetland Year of Percentage Number of Number Percentage import testing +ve re-tested of CLA of CLA +ves • No confirmed reports of transfer of CLA on import rams +ves to Shetland breeding flock 1.72 2007 185 7 3.8 4.52 2008 139 6 4.3 • Greatly increased awareness of disease 1.71 2009 149 5 3.3 3

Questions? Continuing Challenges • Lack of sensitivity of blood ELISA • Lack of availability of accredited breeding stock • Ongoing problem of rams testing positive on second test • Difficulty in clearing infection using test and cull • Lack of availability of effective vaccine 4