Health consultation feedback
22/02/2021
The Trustees wish to offer a huge thank you to
all the members who took the time to complete the health consultation and
provide such constructive and informative feedback. This feedback has
informed the health profiling of the Spring Show & Sale at Worcester on 15
May, and will also provide valuable assistance to Trustees when they are
producing the Society's ongoing health strategy.
138 members responded to the consultation. Most of the respondents had
been with the Society for over 10 years and had well-established herds of up to
20 cows. When cattle were bought and sold the majority were traded
privately, but Society sales were seen as a vital outlet, and were used by new
members when starting out on their Longhorn ‘journey' and establishing new
herds.
Most respondents felt they were aware of the health profile of their herd and
those that had had health issues said that BVD, Johnes and Neospora had been
the most prevalent diseases.
Members overwhelming felt that they wanted the Society to improve the national
Longhorn herd health profile and that the breed could be seen as ‘lagging
behind' by the wider pedigree and commercial beef industry. Sales were
seen a good way to encourage animal health and disease monitoring.
When asked if respondents would like to see all the cattle at Society sales
tested and/or vaccinated for the main diseases over 75% of respondents said
yes. When asked which diseases, BVD came out on top, then Johnes, IBR,
Lepto and then Neospora.
When asked what the barriers to health profiling were, the most common response
was that cost and time would make whole herd testing prohibitive, and that
members would prefer individual testing and vaccinating protocols rather than
compulsory active membership of a health scheme.
After analysing this feedback and noting the positive response from members for
health profiling at Society sales, the Trustees have put health profiling requirements
in place for all cattle entered into the Show and Sale at Worcester on 15 May
2021.
Click here to go to the Show & Sale entry forms and information.