The Trust has been able to continue its support of the Commoners’ Defence Association by funding the BVD vaccination of forest run cows and heifers for the second year running.
It’s important that the Forest is grazed by both ponies and cattle, but we’re seeing a reduction of cattle numbers as, to be frank, life is pretty tough for beef farmers at the moment for lots of reasons. Most farmers can ‘close their doors’ and introduce bio security measures to protect their herds from diseases, but for commoners who graze their animals on the open forest that’s not an option and the best advice is to vaccinate where possible, but of course that comes at a price.
That’s where the mass BVD vaccination comes in, and over the last two years Alex Crook of PilgrimsVets and Hon Vet to the CDA has seen a marked reduction in bovine abortions and sickly calves and a real upturn in live births and the vitality in young stock from vaccinated animals.
Every extra healthy calf makes a huge difference to the Forest and the Commoner and the Trust is proud to be supporting this scheme, unique in the country.