Location of Shetland Shetland CLA Control Programme Hilary - - PDF document

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Shetland CLA Control Programme

Hilary Liebeschuetz BVM&S MRCVS MA

Location of Shetland

• Total Breeding ewes and gimmers 152,705
• Total Sheep 283,750
• Approximate annual imports sheep 400
• Total sheep slaughtered: 8,047
• Total sheep exported: 73,651
• Number of vet practices 1

Statistics

Shetland in Statistics, 2009

Aims of Scheme

• Protect Shetland’s high animal health status.
• Utilise Shetland’s remote island location to

enable Shetland farmers and crofters to produce and market cattle and sheep of high health status.

• Improve the welfare of Shetland’s livestock.
• Continue to tackle new disease threats as

they occur.

Sheep

• Sheep Scab
• EAE
• MV
• CLA
• Worm control

Cattle

• BVD
• Johnes

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Timeline of CLA Scheme

• Pre 2007 clinical inspection plus culture
• f swabs from suspicious abscesses
• Summer 2007 industry consultation on

CLA control options

• Autumn 2007 onwards blood testing of

imported sheep

• 2007 onwards education programme to

increase awareness of CLA

• 2008 repeat CLA test 6 months post

import

• 2009/2010 LEADER funding for

Shetland CLA breeders scheme

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CLA Import Testing Results Rams

Total Imports Total CLA positive % CLA Positive 2007 291 5 1.72 2008 376 17 4.52 2009 410 7 1.71 2010 356 7 1.97 Cheviot Lleyn Suffolk Texel Others Unknown

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• +
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2007 33 6 192 5 47 8 2008 21 7 189 10 78 2 13 51 5 2009 16 15 104 57 1 8 203 6 2010 24 10 1 221 5 71 1 23

Breakdown of Rams by Breed

Year Number of different flock numbers of rams at import Number of flocks with at least 1 CLA +ve Percentage of flocks with at least 1 CLA +ve 2007 89 5 5.6 2008 139 10 7.2 2009 101 4 4 2010 179 6 3.3

Percentages of flocks importing CLA +ve testing rams

Female Imports

Total CLA +ves on import Total number imported 2008 54 2009 1 66 2010 25

CLA Re-test Results

Year of import Percentage testing +ve

• n import

Number of re-tested rams Number

• f CLA

+ves Percentage

• f CLA +ves

2007 1.72 185 7 3.8 2008 4.52 139 6 4.3 2009 1.71 149 5 3.3

Positive Outcomes of the Scheme

• Reduced number of CLA positive sheep

imported to Shetland

• No confirmed reports of transfer of CLA

to Shetland breeding flock

• Greatly increased awareness of disease

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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

Questions?