livestock Cluny Farm near Forres, Morayshire, explains: “Our original management group has continued to meet after the Monitor Farm programme ended eight years ago. “There’s a dozen of us and it is all very informal and has become more of a social group. We meet up when we can and
visit each other’s farms to look around to see what each of us is doing and offer advice and constructive criticism.” To read the full Legacy Project impact report and learn about the farmers and their projects, head to: https://www.monitorfarms. co.uk/monitor-farm-legacyproject-impact-report/
Free test to tackle Mycoplasma bovis
Mycoplasma bovis is of growing concern to farmers and vets, causing widespread disease in the UK – but now they can access a free diagnostic support package to help tackle it. “M. bovis infection is now one of the most common causes of pneumonia in the UK,” says Graeme Fowlie of Meadows Vets. “It is often a primary invader but can be frequently under-diagnosed.” The disease can also cause arthritis, swollen limbs and mastitis. “Because it has no cell wall, it’s difficult to treat with antibiotics. However, control options are improving – so it’s important to identify whether M. bovis is causing a problem on farm.” The free package – Mycoplasma Assisted Diagnosis - launched by Meadows Vets in conjunction with Kernfarm,
Merlin Vets and Livestock Health Scotland, is an important step to help farmers to tackle this endemic disease. Three forms of testing are available: Bulk milk PCR, serology testing of home bred calves over five months old, and post-mortem lung tissue PCR. These samples will be processed at Biobest, Edinburgh. PCR tests are more likely to identify M. bovis than traditional culture, explains Paul Burr, lab director at Biobest. “With traditional culture, unless specifically requested, the presence of Mycoplasma may be missed or Mycoplasma growth overwhelmed by other bacteria. PCR tests can make it quite simple to find Mycoplasma in addition to other bacteria without complex culture requirements. “In our laboratory we find M. bovis in approximately half of all
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