Leptospirosis rampant in dairy herds

SUCKLER beef farmers could be losing substantial income due to a disease called leptospirosis, a nationwide study has revealed.

The study, which involved tests on 4,200 animals, was conducted by Eoin Ryan, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine in UCD and sponsored by Schering Plough Animal Health.

It shows that almost half of all animals in suckler herds are positive for leptospirosis and 99% of all suckler herds have shown evidence of exposure to the disease.