Celebration of Ten Years of AFBI’s Cattle Health Scheme

A number of events are being organised by the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the AFBI Cattle Health Scheme in 2017.

The scheme is a CHeCS licensed scheme that provides a structured approach to a healthier herd.  CHeCS was established by the cattle industry in 1999 as a form of quality control for disease management programmes.  Its aim is to create robust common standards to underpin the control and eradication of the main endemic cattle diseases in the UK and Ireland.

Diseases that are included are Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), Leptospirosis, Johne’s and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR); with the more recent addition of Neosporosis.  For more information call us on 02890 525 749 or email to cattlehealthscheme@afbini.gov.uk.

The event will begin with a light lunch at 1.00pm followed by short talks from a number of the most successful AFBI Cattle Health Scheme members as well as veterinary practitioner and past British Veterinary Cattle Association President, Keith Cutler. Keith has a wealth of experience helping herd keepers in controlling and eradicating disease and making their farms more cost-efficient.

These talks will be followed by a farm tour in AFBI Hillsborough.  The tour will focus on considerations around general biosecurity and Johne’s disease, including the calving environment, colostrum management and challenges in Johne’s herd screening.   AFBI Cattle Health Scheme staff will be available for questions on the day. 

AFBI's Veterinary Services Division (VSD), and its predecessor the Veterinary Research Laboratory, has provided animal health diagnostic services to Government and farmers in Northern Ireland for over 90 years and has established close working relationship between VSD staff, private veterinary practitioners and the farming community. VSD veterinary staff have recognised expertise in the diagnosis and control of the diseases covered by the scheme.  Testing is conducted to the highest standards, being monitored by external quality assurance schemes and performed to the ISO 17025 accredited standard. 

In the interests of biosecurity those attending are asked to wear clean clothing and footwear not previously worn while in direct contact with their own animals.  Protective overalls and footwear will be provided.

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