Scotland has recorded its first case of Schmallenberg disease in sheep since 2017. The midge-borne virus was confirmed on an Aberdeenshire farm in February.

The disease, which causes deformed foetuses, was picked up by SRUC vet labs when a lamb was handed in for post-mortem examination.

SRUC's veterinary centre manager Tim Geraghty said: “The disease usually comes in cycles. We expect to get increased cases every four to five years, with the last bad year in 2017, so we are concerned about more cases this spring. But the good news it we have only found one in malformed foetus in sheep and none in cattle so far this year, though blood tests have confirmed the virus has circulated again.”

Read more: Schmallenberg concern for early lambing

The disease was found in a homebred ewe which had spent its entire life on the north east farm. SRUC are recommending that farmers contact their vet if they find malformed calves or lambs and government subsidised testing is available.

Other causes of abortion and still births are also common in the lab during spring. While it can feel like ‘good money after bad’ to spend money investigating these losses, laboratory investigation can provide vital information on the status of the herd or flock health. Complete laboratory testing is discounted in the surveillance system, and costs around £110 for up to three calf submissions, and £67 for lambs from up to three affected ewes. This testing can screen for 15 to 16 different diseases. Even when only negative results are obtained this is valuable information for the herd or flock, ruling out significant diseases.

Venereal campylobacter has been found by post-mortem examination in an Aberdeenshire cattle herd this month. The disease causes abortion of calves and is spread through the bull during mating. The infection can cause sudden abortions of a number of cows mid-gestation or it can become chronic and reduce fertility significantly and increase abortion rate year-on-year.

Cows can carry the infection for a year and will reinfect clean bulls who can then pass it onto others in the herd. Tackling the disease is challenging but possible over time. Farmers typically set up a ‘clean’ bulling group which has no infection and a ‘dirty’ bulling group which has been exposed to or has an infection. A bull without any infection is used on the clean herd.

Vaccination can also play a role in helping control, but as there is no licenced product in the UK this requires vet involvement on a case by case basis. Any farmer suffering from consistent low fertility or a spike in abortions should contact their vet.

Toxic silage is also all too common in the diseases found by the vet lab this spring. Spoiled silage, which is mainly found at the top and edges of the pit or in poorly sealed bales is very dangerous to pregnant cattle and sheep. Tim is keen to remind farmers not to feed this to cows and sheep coming towards birth.

Meanwhile this week Ruminant Health and Welfare (RH&W) launched a survey to identify schmallenberg virus (SBV) in lambing this spring. Working with student vets who are on placement on host farms they will collect data on deformed lambs.

Nigel Miller, RH&W chair said: “As studies reveal that UK flocks are predicted to be entering a phase of increased risk, we’re grateful for the support from host farms to help us work with a new generation of vet students during their lambing placements. We are asking them to capture data on deformities seen in lambs over the lambing period which will provide evidence for the spread of SBV, and will offer a key insight of the national picture on SBV at a county level.”

Once all data is collected and interpreted, a report will be produced in early summer.