Should BVD eradication be compulsory?

EVERY CATTLE farmer in Scotland is in total agreement — BVD is a scourge on the national herd and eradication should be a number one priority. Up till now, however, the problem was how to go about it and how to make best use of the limited monetary resources which are likely to be made available.
A big step forward was taken this week with the announcement by NFU Scotland that its members not only favoured a permanent all-Scotland eradication programme, but also that any money should be put the way of screening and testing and not paid out on the animals most affected by the disease.
Moreover, the union favours an initial voluntary stage which, in time, would be supplemented by legislation which would, as a matter of course, then make the scheme compulsory.
There is no doubt that for eradication to be complete, a compulsory phase must at some time be introduced. Even then, there will always be those prepared to try to find a loophole if a few quid can be made out of it.
The next step must, therefore, be the drawing up of a set of guidelines — made as watertight as possible — along with a strict timetable.
The sooner we get started, the sooner we will be finished and Scotland can enhance its reputation for the provision of livestock of the highest quality.