Farmers and vets have come together to fight the proposed closure of Inverness Veterinary Surveillance centre.

The move follows a meeting in Inverness on Wednesday to discuss the closure which, along with the possibility of closing the centre at Ayr, is one of the options included in an ongoing SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) consultation on the future of veterinary disease surveillance in Scotland.

Speaking after chairing the meeting, NFU Scotland's Regional Chairman for the Highlands Jim Whiteford said: "Farmers would be faced with making use of the limited service in Thurso or taking carcases for post mortem all the way to Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. The sad fact of the matter is that, if left with these choices, farmers would struggle to find the time to make the trip and proper veterinary surveillance and our reputation for animal health would suffer. Can you imagine the sheer practicalities involved in taking a carcase from Sky to Inverurie for examination - a 10-hour round trip?"

Mr Whiteford went on: "Farmers are not the only beneficiaries of the lab facilities. Others who use the facility in Inverness are looking at the health of wildlife, marine animals, fish, both resident and migratory birds and human health - all of which is helped and protected from the work done within the Inverness vet lab. SRUC need to be more open about the contribution that other interests away from livestock farming make to the running costs of the lab."

A spokesman for SRUC said: "The proposals on which we are consulting are driven by the need to ensure that we continue to maintain a disease surveillance service for the Highlands, Islands and Scotland, but one that is efficient, sustainable and robust. Our proposals follow the 2011 Kinnaird Review of Veterinary Surveillance commissioned by the Scottish Government."

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals can access the full consultation document, including other details at www.ac.uk/diseasesurveillanceconsultation.

Market round-up

United Auctions sold 140 store heifers at Stirling on Thursday to a top of 252.9p per kg and an average of 234.2p (-2.6p on the week), while 121 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 293.4p and levelled at 248.4p (+14.1p). Forty-four store, B&W bullocks sold to 188.8p and averaged 181.9p.

In the rough ring 92 cows averaged 125.9p.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 76 store heifers at Ayr yesterday to a top of £1420 per head and 262p per kg to average £955.74 and 224.7p (+12.6p on the fortnight), while 124 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1410 and 274.1p to level at £920.16 and 235.1p (+9.9p). Forty-five store, B&W bullocks sold to £930 and 195.8p to average £792.66 and 181p (+11.6p).