The Scottish Government is to introduce a BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) "positive" herd status from April 10th. Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing said: "Controlling the disease is centred on the identification of persistently infected animals and the timely removal of these animals from the herd. Such control measures are estimated to save the industry between £50-80m over a ten-year period.

Mr Ewing explained that the introduction of a new BVD "positive" status will make the current eradication scheme easier for farmers to understand, adding: "This is an important change as it will highlight for the first time herds that pose a higher BVD risk for those purchasing or moving cattle.

"This positive status will only apply to herds that are likely to have a live persistently infected animal. Once the infected animal has been removed, or the presence of the virus has been ruled out, the BVD herd status will revert back to the current "not-negative" status."

Penny Johnston, Animal Health and Welfare Policy Manager for NFU Scotland, commented: "Whilst this doesn't actually introduce any additional controls for those herds now designated as BVD positive, it is an important step in recognising that any herd which retains a live persistently infected status is known to have BVD so must be considered a positive herd and cannot hide behind a more ambiguous "not-negative" status.

"It is a small change, but one which we hope will make people think twice before holding onto a persistently infected animal. If we are to get on top of BVD in Scotland, all persistently infected animals need to be removed from herds as soon as possible."

* Meanwhile , Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has appointed Alan Clarke as its new chief executive.

Mr Clarke, who is currently chief executive of Scottish Bakers, will take over the reins from 'Uel Morton who will step down in July after 11 years in the role.

Mr Clarke took up his position with Scottish Bakers six years ago and highlights during his tenure have included the establishment of the first Scottish Bakers Export Group and increasing overall membership by 22 per cent. His career has also included five years' experience as director of Lifelong Learning UK and ten years as chief executive of a Sector Training Council in Northern Ireland.

Market round-up

Wallets Marts had a plainer show for quality of 548 prime hoggs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday that sold to £83 per head and 201p per kg to average 161p (-14.4p on the week).

There were also 97 cast sheep forward with ewes selling to £124 for Texel and £60 for Blackfaces.