FARMERS face a potential cut in access to livestock health checks and post-mortems amid proposals to close two of Scotland's disease surveillance units.
Scotland's Rural College is consulting on whether to axe the Ayr and Inverness branches of its disease surveillance network, operated by its SAC Consulting division.
The service monitors disease across Scotland's agriculture industry and offers veterinary services such as disease testing and animal post-mortems for farmers.
The SRUC has suggested that centres at Thurso, Perth, St Boswells, Dumfries, Aberdeen and Edinburgh could continue, with the Aberdeen and Edinburgh centres possibly relocating to new premises.
If the plan goes ahead, the Inverness unit could close as early as this autumn, with the region thereafter served by the centres in Thurso, Aberdeenshire and Perth.
Meanwhile, routine laboratory testing work could transfer from Ayr to Dumfries.
SRUC acting chief executive, Janet Swadling, said: "Against a budget that is reducing in real terms we have prepared a plan to provide a more efficient service which is fit for the future, considers local demands and the need to retain a critical mass of important expertise."
Penny Johnston, animal health and policy manager for farmers' union, NFUS, said: "Whatever changes are being considered, the service available to farmers must not be diminished."
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