project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Developing a blueprint for controlling malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in farmed bison and buffalo in Wales
Developing a blueprint for controlling malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in farmed bison and buffalo in Wales
Objectives
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) (caused by the virus OvHV-2) can affect cattle, bison, water buffalo, deer and yak and whilst sheep are considered the main reservoir host, recent work suggests a large proportion of cattle can also carry the virus subclinically. However, bison, buffalo and deer are considered to be much more susceptible than cattle and this is one of the main hurdles for farmers wanting to diversify into this lucrative niche market.
This project, involving one bison holding and two buffalo holdings will investigate how the disease can be controlled on farms in Wales.
Objectives
Gall clwy cataraidd malaen (MCF) (a achosir gan y firws OvHV-2) effeithio ar wartheg, bison, byfflo dŵr, ceirw ac iaciaid ac er bod defaid yn cael eu hystyried fel y prif anifeiliaid lletyol, mae gwaith diweddar yn awgrymu y gall cyfran fawr o wartheg hefyd fod yn cario’r firws yn is-glinigol. Fodd bynnag, credir bod bison, byfflo a cheirw yn llawer mwy agored na gwartheg a dyma un o’r prif rwystrau i ffermwyr sydd eisiau arallgyfeirio i’r farchnad arbenigol broffidiol hon.
Bydd y prosiect hwn, a fydd yn canolbwyntio ar un daliad bison a dau ddaliad byfflo, yn ymchwilio i sut gellir rheoli’r clefyd ar ffermydd yng Nghymru.
Activities
Blood samples will be taken from bison/buffalo on each farm to test if they are, or have been exposed to OvHV-2.
Blood samples will be collected from other livestock on the farms e.g. sheep, deer and cattle to determine whether they are potential sources of infection.
The blood and pooled faecal samples will also be tested to see whether the bison/buffalo have been exposed to other disease or parasites that could potentially increase their risk of developing MCF.
A new vaccine against OvHV-2 will be used on the bison holding to assess whether it is a practical option for controlling MCF on farms.
A disease control package will be formulated and tested for a further 12 months to assess its success on each farm.
Activities
Cymerir samplau gwaed gan y bison/byfflo ar bob fferm i brofi a ydynt, nawr neu yn y gorffennol, wedi dod i gysylltiad ag OvHV-2.
Cesglir samplau gwaed gan dda byw eraill ar y ffermydd e.e. defaid, ceirw a gwartheg i brofi a ydynt yn ffynonellau posibl i’r haint.
Bydd y gwaed, ynghyd â samplau tail cyfun, hefyd yn cael eu profi i weld a yw’r bison/byfflo wedi dod i gysylltiad â chlefydau neu barasitiaid a allai o bosibl gynyddu eu risg o ddatblygu MCF.
Caiff brechlyn newydd yn erbyn OvHV-2 ei ddefnyddio ar y daliad bison lle mae MCF yn broblem, i weld a yw’n ddewis ymarferol ar gyfer rheoli MCF ar ffermydd.
Caiff pecyn i reoli’r clefyd ei greu a chynhelir profion am 12 mis pellach i asesu ei lwyddiant ar bob fferm.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP004 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Wales
Location
- Main geographical location
- Conwy and Denbighshire
- Other geographical location
- South West Wales
EUR 46 469.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
1 Practice Abstracts
In the UK and Wales, some pioneering producers have found a ready market for bison meat. It is considered to be a healthy red meat alternative to traditional beef products being lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium. It also has a very similar protein content, is lower in calories and is high in iron and vitamin B12.
Compared to beef in the UK, bison meat is worth considerably more, with deadweight prices for bison approximately twice that for cattle, and retail prices for bison meat frequently more than 1.5 times that of beef.
As such, bison are considered as one option for farmers looking to diversify. However, bison are challenging not only due to their temperament and sensitivity to stress but also their increased susceptibility to malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), which is considered the disease-limiting factor to successful production.
MCF (caused by the virus OvHV-2) can affect cattle, bison, water buffalo, deer and yak and whilst sheep are considered the main reservoir host, recent work suggests a large proportion of cattle can also carry the virus subclinically. However, bison, buffalo and deer are considered to be much more susceptible than cattle and this is one of the main hurdles for farmers wanting to diversify into this lucrative niche market.
Hopefully this project will determine possible steps that farmers can take to control MCF, which is currently lacking within the niche sector. This should provide useful information for producers considering this as a diversification option and provide examples of control to help those at the start of the process.
Yn y Deyrnas Unedig a Chymru, mae rhai cynhyrchwyr arloesol wedi dod o hyd i farchnad sy’n awyddus i brynu cig bison. Ystyrir bod y cig coch hwn yn iachach na chynhyrchion biff traddodiadol gan ei fod yn cynnwys llai o fraster, colesterol a sodiwm. Mae’r cynnwys protein hefyd yn debyg iawn, mae’n cynnwys llai o galorïau ac mae’n uchel mewn haearn a fitamin B12.
O’i gymharu â chig eidion yn y Deyrnas Unedig, mae cig bison yn werth llawer mwy, gyda phrisiau pwysau marw am fison yn tua dwywaith y pris a geir am wartheg, ac mae’r prisiau adwerthu am gig bison yn aml dros 1.5 gwaith yn fwy na chig eidion.
O’r herwydd, mae bison yn cael ei ystyried fel un dewis i ffermwyr sy’n awyddus i arallgyfeirio. Fodd bynnag, nid yw bison yn hawdd i’w ffermio, nid yn unig oherwydd eu tymer a’u sensitifrwydd i straen, ond hefyd y ffaith eu bod yn fwy agored i’r clwy cataraidd malaen (MCF), sy’n cael ei ystyried fel yr un ffactor sy’n cyfyngu ar y gallu i’w cynhyrchu’n llwyddiannus.
Gall MCF (a achosir gan y firws OvHV-2) effeithio ar wartheg, bison, byfflo dŵr, ceirw ac iaciaid ac er bod defaid yn cael eu hystyried fel y prif anifeiliaid lletyol, mae gwaith diweddar yn awgrymu y gall cyfran fawr o wartheg hefyd fod yn cario’r firws yn is-glinigol. Fodd bynnag, credir bod bison, byfflo a cheirw yn llawer mwy agored na gwartheg a dyma un o’r prif rwystrau i ffermwyr sydd eisiau arallgyfeirio i’r farchnad arbenigol broffidiol hon.
Gyda lwc, bydd y prosiect hwn yn canfod camau posibl y gall ffermwyr eu cymryd i reoli MCF, gan mai prin iawn yw’r atebion yn y sector arbenigol hwn ar hyn o bryd. Dylai’r prosiect ddarparu gwybodaeth ddefnyddiol i gynhyrchwyr sy’n ystyried hwn fel ffordd o arallgyfeirio a darparu esiamplau o ddulliau rheoli i helpu’r rheini sydd ar ddechrau’r broses.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Joseph Angell
Project coordinator