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9 June 2003
Concern
over Organic Livestock Animal Health
James
Irvine
Teviot
Scientific Consultancy, Edinburgh
(Filed
9 June 2003)
www.land-care.org.uk
The standard of animal health within the organic
sector was severely criticised by Caithness vet Frank
Stephen when attending the Scottish Agricultural College
workshop on veterinary services to the cattle and sheep sector earlier
this month (1).
Writing in the Scottish Farmer of 7th June, Gordon
Davidson comments that Frank Stephen was scathing about the burgeoning
organic sector with money being thrown at it because its picturesque
image hid an uglier reality (2).
Frank Stephen is quoted as saying
"Who are the people going organic? Very often it is the
farms which have been unprofitable at conventional farming, so
their management is already substandard. If the government and
the retail trade must encourage organic farming, they should also
stipulate a compulsory veterinary input. Believe me, I've seen
the bad side of the organic livestock sector and they need vets"
There have of course been others who have previously
expressed their concern over the matter of animal health as practised
in the organic sector. Professor Quintin
McKellar, Director of the Moredun Institute, remonstrated
with the organic movement over the problem of controlling sheep
scab which is now endemic in the UK, saying that they will have
to "get real" (3). In his view the licensing
of organophosphates (OPs) and the improved safety measure that are
now incorporated should enable OPs to control sheep scab. However
part of the creed of the organic movement is not to use prophylactic
treatment if at all possible, or only if the risks of disease actually
occurring are "very high" as determined by their own organisation
(4).
Dr Ruth Watkins, with an impressive scientific
background, has described her experience as an organic sheep farmer
in Wales. She clearly articulates the very real problems regarding
animal health and welfare within the organic system, not only in
relation to sheep scab but also such basic matters as trace elements
and vaccination against common infections (5).
It was disappointing to read (Scottish Farmer
7th June page 9) a digest of the press release from the
Soil Association/Scottish Agricultural College conference entitled
"Agriculture: the primary health service?". Contrary
to the hype of the press release the reality was that this conference
was nothing short of a blatant promotion exercise for unsubstantiated
yet expensive benefits of organic farming. Indeed it was so based
on anecdote and faith that one had to wonder why the SAC (and by
inference the University of Paisley where the conference was held)
had lent its name to it - indeed the SAC had been a co-presenter.
The SAC consumes substantial amounts of the taxpayer's money through
grants from the Scottish Executive. It should not be too much to
ask that the SAC exerts better control over what is presented under
its name, if it is to retain credibility as a "knowledge-based
organisation" as opposed to an uncritical facilitator of hype
(6).
www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. SAC workshop on the provision
of veterinary services to the cattle and sheep sector in Scotland,
2nd June 2003.
(To be reported on Land-Care shortly)
.
2. Davidson, Gordon (2003). Farm
vets on brink: extinction faces old allies.
Scottish Farmer: 7th June, p4.
3. "Organic farmers will
have to get real" says Professor McKellar.
(Filed 23 December 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
4. United Kingdom Register of
Organic Food Standards (UKROFS). Chapter 5: Disease Prevention and
Veterinary Treatment.
(Filed 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
Click
here to view).
5. Watkins, Ruth (2003). Compassion
for the health of farm animals 2003.
(Filed 2002, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
6. Irvine, James (2003). Agriculture:
the Primary Health Service? Soil Association and SAC Conference,
Paisley 28th May. High in Hype but Poor in Credibility.
(Filed 2 June 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care
Editorial (2002). Food Standards Agency does not provide Support
for Organic Farming.
(Filed 4 November 2002 www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Irvine, James(2003). Michael Meacher talks Organic Garbage.
(Filed 2 April 2003 www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Editorial (2003). SEERAD offers Awards for Organic Aid Scheme -
but why do they do it?
(Filed 14 March 2003 www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Scottish Executive Organic Action Plan (2003).
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/orap-00.asp
Antibiotic Resistance in Humans not the Result of Excessive or Inappropriate
use in Animals.
(Filed 4 April 2003 www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Animal medicine residues are not a problem for humans.
(Filed 3 April 2003 www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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