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projects : technical : health initiativeHealth Initiative2605 Calves Entered Through The Limousin Herd Health Initiative Eighty two herds representing 2605 calves claimed financial support through the first year of the British Limousin Cattle Society’s Herd Health Initiative. As a result, the Society paid out over £5000 in total to participating herds in 2005. Financial support to the level of £100,000 has been made available, initially over a four year period, as an encouragement to Limousin Society members who are making an investment in long-term herd health assurance. Monies have been paid back to participating members through a ‘cash-back’ scheme based on the number of individual herd registrations per annum lodged with the Society. To be eligible, pedigree herds have to be demonstrably within, and adhering to the terms of, a Cattle Health Certification Standards, or CHeCS, approved animal health scheme to include a whole herd Johne’s test. CHeCS is a self-regulatory body for Cattle Health Schemes in the UK and licence holders include Premium Cattle Health Scheme, HI Health and Herdcare. Herds are able to claim in each year of the initiative that they participate in and new herds can join at any time and claim from that year onwards in accordance with the outlined criteria. The significant financial commitment to herd health is a principal part in the Society’s ongoing technical drive to provide breeders and customers with cattle that combine the highest visual and genetic quality with an assured high health status. Commenting on the first year of the initiative, Aled Edwards, Chairman of the British Limousin Cattle Society said, “From a standing start, the first year’s participation is extremely encouraging. This is step one in what is very much a long-term initiative and one that has been widely welcomed by the agricultural industry as an important and leading project for the promotion of responsible Herd Health management”. “Members have been quick to recognise the industry value and marketing advantage this initiative will bring to the breed, breeders and customers. It is a responsible aim of the Society and its breeders to provide its customers with cattle of a known and assured high health status,” he said The Limousin Herd Health Initiative is indicative of the Society’s aim to provide high level, added value projects and services, with a commitment to invest heavily in initiatives that reward good practice in the management and promotion of Limousin herds and the Limousin breed. LIMOUSIN SOCIETY INVESTS £100,000 IN HERD HEALTH INITIATIVE In a major policy announcement, The British Limousin Cattle Society has outlined its plans to invest £100,000 in the introduction of a progressive breed Herd Health Assurance initiative. The initiative, which will be open to all 2,500 members of the BLCS, will play a central part in the Society’s ongoing technical drive to provide cattle that combine the highest visual and genetic quality with an assured high health status. Announcing the plans, BLCS Chairman, Aled Edwards said: “This is an exciting step forward for the Society. The initiative is a responsible, long term commitment to herd health that is introduced with welcome scientific backing. In today’s industry the emphasis is very much on quality, efficiency and costs of production. We will continue to meet the demands of the market place and this is a logical further step forward to positively provide our customer base with health assured cattle, both male and female.” Financial support will be made available, initially over a four year period, to both those members who are already making an investment in herd health assurance and as a means of positive encouragement to those considering their herds’ involvement. Participating members will receive monies through the practical option of a ‘cash-back’ scheme based on the number of individual herd registrations per annum lodged with the Society. To be eligible, herds will have to be demonstrably within, and adhering to the terms of, a Cattle Health Certification Standards, or CHeCS, approved animal health scheme. CHeCS is a self-regulatory body for Cattle Health Schemes in the UK and licence holders include Premium Cattle Health Scheme, HI Health and Herdcare. Commenting, CHeCS Executive Director Tim Brigstocke warmly welcomed the BLCS plans, he said: “This is an excellent long term investment in herd health by a major breed society that will be welcomed by Government and the whole of the food chain.” The BLCS initiative will be administered by the Society with monies paid back to the value of £25,000 retrospectively at the end of each year. BLCS Chief Executive, Iain Kerr, said that the initiative was ground breaking for the Society and was again ‘taking the lead’ to meet the industry challenges ahead. “With the introduction of the Single Farm Payment, the BLCS believes that assured high health status is an essential criteria to sell breeding and prime stock into premium markets and to be in a position to fully exploit all new opportunities,” he said. In August of last year, the Society held an Elite Sale within its World Congress that carried high health status entry conditions. This principle was well received by vendors and purchasers alike and its success contributed to the Society’s determination to pursue long term positive herd health policies. Detailed plans of the initiative will be rolled out to members in February and will be a point of discussion at the forthcoming Spring Bull Sales. February 2005 |
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