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Postal survey of contacts between cattle farms on the Isle of Lewis

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Vernon, Matthew C., Webb, Cerian R. and Heath, M. Fred. (2010) Postal survey of contacts between cattle farms on the Isle of Lewis. Veterinary Record, The, Vol.166 (No.2). pp. 37-40. ISSN 0042-4900

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.c69

Abstract

The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) database contains an unprecedented quantity of data on the movement of cattle within the UK. These data may be used to construct models of the contact structure of the UK cattle herd, for epidemiological purposes. There are two significant potential sources of inaccuracy within such models: movements that are not reported or are reported inaccurately to the BCMS, and contacts between farms that might transmit infection, but are not animal movements. This field study addressed these issues. Cattle farmers on the Isle of Lewis were recruited with the assistance of the local veterinary surgeon, and asked to record a range of potential risk behaviours for a one-month period. They were also asked questions about husbandry practices on their farm. Comparison of the BCMS contact data with that reported by Lewis' farmers highlighted use of common grazing land as a significant source of contact, and potential disease transmission, between cattle that currently goes unreported; around half of responding holdings on Lewis use common grazing land at some point during the year, and these movements are not reported to the BCMS.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cattle -- Statistics, Cattle -- Databases, Cattle -- Lewis with Harris Island (Scotland), Animals as carriers of disease, Farms -- Lewis with Harris Island (Scotland), Communicable diseases -- Transmission
Journal or Publication Title:	Veterinary Record, The
Publisher:	BMJ Group
ISSN:	0042-4900
Date:	2010
Volume:	Vol.166
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 37-40
Identification Number:	10.1136/vr.c69
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3523