| 2018-04-23 |    |
Wiltshire Herd Takes Top Award for Johne’s Control
The 2018 HerdWise Best Practice Award for Johne’s Control has been presented to James Smith, herdsman for TWF Hawking, Oldfield Farm near Chippenham with runner up is Laura Elliot from Tedion Farm, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire.
The awards were presented at the NMR open day at Longnor, Shropshire by host farmer and winner of the 2017 award Tim Downes and award judge Karen Bond.
Herdwise best practice Award 2018 WINNER James Smith, with 2017 award winner Tim Downes (centre) and award judge Karen Bond
Oldfield Farm, that has a 240-cow Holstein Friesian herd in an organic system, was presented with £500 of Johne’s testing vouchers, a silver salver and luxury hamper. The herd’s veterinary practice George Vets from Malmesbury, under the guidance of vet Ian Cardiff, also received a trophy to recognise its contribution to the herd’s Johne’s control programme.
Runner up, Laura Elliot, runs a 270 Friesian and Jersey grazing based and spring calving herd. She received £250 of HerdWise vouchers.
Certificates were awarded to two further finalists –Mark Knight from New Spittles Farm, near Yeovil, Somerset, and Andrew Hall from Hale Hall Farm, near Preston in Lancashire.
Now in its fourth year, the award is open to all 1700 herds using the CHeCS-accredited quarterly milk screening service HerdWise.
Judges, Lyndon Edwards and NMR vet Karen Bond, look for producers who are working with their vet and using risk assessment and screening services to develop a control plan specific to their herd.
“But equally importantly is that we look for herds demonstrating best practice in Johne’s disease control on their farm, with the whole team engaged in planned protocols. And we look for evidence that sound progress is being made,” says Mrs Bond.
“The vet plays a vital role in the success of the control plans; they are very much part of the team and our four finalists all illustrate this in their on-farm plans and in their success to date.”
Working closely with the Johne’s Action Group, she highlights the group’s target of 95% of herds having a signed declaration by their vet confirming that a robust Johne’s control plan is in place on the farm by October 2018.
“Many vets and producers are working hard towards this target, but there is still some way to go in the remaining six months and we hope that this award will inspire others to commit to Johne’s control in their herds.”
