The National Beef Association has launched a glossary of cattle health and disease terms to be used by farmers and advisory professionals.

It has been put together with help from CHeCS. Defra's animal health and veterinary divisions, the Scottish Agricultural College, Pfizer (UK) Ltd and the British Limousin Cattle Society.

"A national glossary capable of establishing common terminology and acting as an industry reference point had to be developed because too much current health information is based on conflicting definitions which farmers, and some vets, are finding increasingly difficult to follow," explained NBA policy advisor Kim Haywood.

"We would like our glossary to establish a common descriptive language on disease and its treatment that will be used across the UK cattle industry. A proper understanding of the exact meaning of the most important technical terms is extremely important."

The glossary contains a brief description of IBR, BVD, Leptospirosis and Johnes - which are the four diseases currently included in controls set out by the managers of voluntary cattle health schemes.

And then defines 36 health related terms like "accredited", "antigen", "carrier", "immunity", "monitored free", "persistently infected", " transient infection" and "marker vaccine" which are becoming an increasingly common part of the cattle health vocabulary.

"The NBA is using these definitions to help breed societies and pedigree breeders to establish uniformly defined health declarations on sale cards this autumn," said Ms Haywood.

"It is also sure that other farmers will find the glossary useful when the eradication of selected diseases becomes a central part of the national drive to reduce management costs and generate more efficient beef and calf production."

"In the not too distant future the Association can forsee farms with effective IBR and BVD control programmes being able to export pedigree cattle more easily than those which do not."

"And it may even be that those which are making an effort to control Johnes, can demonstrate to supermarkets that they are paying more attention to health control seriously, or are members of an accredited health scheme, will have a commercial advantage over those which do not."

"This glossary establishes common ground and common understanding for everyone who wishes to take cattle health more seriously. Farmers should ring our head office on 01684 565 442 to obtain a copy," Ms Haywood added, or visit our web site at www.nationalbeefassociation.com