[jacquip]

Am parting company with my sheepies due to management issues under the rules of the Premium Cattle Health Scheme I have joined.  So have for sale 5 registered shearling Lleyn ewes and one prizewinning registered coloured Ryeland ram.  Must all go together.  Photos and price on request alvecoteherd@btinternet.com

[Rosemary]

Am parting company with my sheepies due to management issues under the rules of the Premium Cattle Health Scheme I have joined. 

Side issue - what arethe issues? Just curious.

[jacquip]

When you join a health scheme you  have to adhere to the biosecurity guidelines laid down in the scheme (CHeCS).  Sheep are known carriers of BVD and although one might have healthy sheep you are not allowed for them to make contact with your cows either by grazing them together or permitting nose to nose contact and have to keep a 3 metre boundary between the species.  On a smallish acreage whilst not impossible it does add to your day to day problems.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Rough location would help potential buyers, just region would do, so people know if you are reachable from them?

[jacquip]

Sorry, Ceredigion.

[Rosemary]

When you join a health scheme you  have to adhere to the biosecurity guidelines laid down in the scheme (CHeCS).  Sheep are known carriers of BVD and although one might have healthy sheep you are not allowed for them to make contact with your cows either by grazing them together or permitting nose to nose contact and have to keep a 3 metre boundary between the species.  On a smallish acreage whilst not impossible it does add to your day to day problems.

I asked my vet about this - I have sheep and cattle grazing together, so was concerned. He says that the 3m is between cattle and cattle not sheep and cattle. New evidence is that sheep probably don't carry BVD. As he pointed out, Scotland has just intoduced a BVD eradication programme - that wouldn't work if Scottish farmers couldn't keep cattle and sheep together closer than 3m.

[robert waddell]

bvd =bovine viral diarrhoea     i will say again BOVINE       WTF did sheep come into the equation

[jacquip]

Eradication and Accreditation are two different things

'BVD virus (BVDV) is closely related to the viruses that cause classical swine fever in pigs and border disease in sheep.  In theory, sheep and deer, can be a source of infection for cattle, although sheep are at greater risk from cattle than vice versa.  There are other issues with L hardjo as well. L. Hardjo has been recovered from the urine of sheep, and one study has shown that cattle herds are more likely to be infected with leptospirosis if sheep are present on the farm. It is recommended that contact between cattle and sheep is kept to a minimum. As leptospira do not tolerate drying or exposure to sunlight, a rest period of two months after grazing by sheep or infected animals should make pasture safe for uninfected animals.'

The CHeCS rules are mandatory for herds in the Accreditation programmes.

16. Co-grazing with sheep or other domestic ruminants or camelids: Although not a mandatory requirement, it is strongly recommended that, wherever possible cattle and sheep do not graze together.

I don't have to sell my sheep so will not be parting with them for a silly price but on the other hand if one is going to enter into the spirit of Accreditation then I take the view that you should follow the scheme's recommendations - as it is costing me an arm and a leg.  Although I will be taking up the 3 metre boundary bit with our vet who seems to want to 'gold plate' everything.

[jacquip]

Sheep now sold.