AS LAMBING and calving seasons begin for another year, members of the public are being urged to clean up after their dogs on or near to agricultural land, as parasites found in some dog faeces can cause abortions in cattle and death in sheep.

The two diseases of particular concern that can be present as a result of faeces on farmland are neosporosis and sarcocystosis. Neosporosis can cause abortions in cattle and is thought to be responsible for the highest percentage of all cattle abortions reported in the UK. Neospora eggs are produced by infected dogs and excreted in their faeces. Cattle will then become infected if they eat food, i.e. grass, or drink water contaminated with the eggs.

Sarcocystosis is also caused by parasites, which can use dogs as intermediate hosts, and similarly the eggs are produced and excreted in faeces. There is currently no licensed vaccine or drugs available for these diseases – and with several cases reported over recent months, NFU Scotland is pleading with the public to be more responsible.

Prompted by a comment made by BBC2 presenter Simon Mayo regarding "flicking poo into a nearby field as a boy", NFUS animal health and welfare policy manager Penny Johnston said: “Whilst Simon Mayo mentioned this in jest on the show yesterday, there is a serious message here, that regardless of where you are, you should pick up after your dog, and not just flick it into a nearby field.

“This is becoming an increasing problem for many farmers, especially when located on urban fringes and is an important issue for dog owners to be aware of, both for the health of their own pet but also the livestock grazing on that land."