You will have received your updated cattle and sheep standards.  Contained within this was a summary sheet containing where all of the changes sit compared to the previous standards.

Of these changes 48, 44 are changes to simplify wording or recommendations designed to help your business. The key change that may impact your business is detailed below:

3.4. New Standard: Annual livestock Health and Welfare review must be undertaken by nominated vet or vet practice.

What is the impact to you?

Health planning has long been considered a useful way of proactively managing livestock health and welfare, equipping farmers to avoid disease pitfalls and optimise productivity.  Veterinary input helps to ensure such plans are robust, effective, and strategic, and supports farmers with current best practice in areas such as antibiotic stewardship.  In line with other UK assurance schemes, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) introduced a requirement for veterinary review of health plans in 2020 but offered a two-year dispensation to allow time for affected farmers to incorporate this into their practice.

In line with other UK assurance schemes, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) introduced a requirement for annual veterinary visits to member holdings in 2020.  This visit can take place for clinical reasons, and is not necessarily specific to the health plan, so if the vet attends for any reason during the year this would satisfy the standard.  A dispensation was offered to allow time for affected members to incorporate this into their practice, with the requirement being implemented from 1stApril 2022.

The vet does not have to visit specifically to carry out the health plan.  If the vet visits anyway, it can be carried out then.

Legalities within or standards, why?

Legal requirements are included within our standards to ensure QMS is covering off legal due diligence. There is no recourse on these legally if there is an issue, and this can be a good way to ensure that your business is prepared should it receive a SEPA or SGRPID unannounced inspection.

What is the difference between a standard and a recommendation?

A standard requires compliance, or you can’t be part of the scheme. A recommendation is a suggestion to help guide and support your business.

What can we do better?

QMS is always here to listen and work with you to make process and change easier to manage.  Following two years of Covid-19 restrictions, QMS is planning a comprehensive programme of face to face engagement following the busy lambing and calving period. This will include specific farmers meetings, and attendance at summer agricultural shows.  This is a great opportunity for us to see you all again and use the precious time to speak with you about key issues.  It has been a long two years and we are looking forward to getting back out and about.