Ayrshire farmers have voiced their support for a vital veterinary facility near Ayr being kept open, boosting the long term health of the region’s livestock.

Members of NFU Scotland met recently with representatives from SRUC to discuss the future of the Veterinary Disease Surveillance centre at Nelly’s Gate, Auchincruive. The proposed closure of the lab is one of the options included in an ongoing SRUC consultation on the future of veterinary disease surveillance in Scotland.  The consultation closes on 10 July 2015 and the future of the SRUC-run centres at Inverness and Ayr are under consideration.

Speaking after the meeting, NFUS Ayrshire Regional Chairman John Wildman said: “Given that the facility at Ayr is the second most utilised veterinary centre in Scotland, it is understandable that livestock producers in this area are questioning SRUC’s threat of closure.

“This lab is located within one of the most densely populated livestock areas in Scotland. The use of the lab by Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Galloway farmers demonstrates that there is a genuine demand for the service it provides and for it to remain at its current location.

“Livestock farmers in this area are constantly striving to improve the health of their animals.  The expertise, dedication and knowledge built up by staff at this centre and their willingness to engage with farmers is something that should be recognised and rewarded rather than threatened with closure.

 “Relocation to of the lab to the north side of Glasgow has been mooted as an option but such a shift would rob the area of a well-used facility and run the risk of reducing the effectiveness of animal health surveillance in the region.

“Farmers would think twice about the time and distance involved in taking carcases for examination through the city of Glasgow taking material there and this would result in far fewer post mortems being carried out.

“Similarly, we would struggle to see the justification for moving to a new site in given the existing centre already offers an ideal and discreet location for such a facility.

“Farmers are aware of SRUC’s attempts to sell the Auchincruive site.  We would remind SRUC that this consultation is about the proper delivery of veterinary surveillance for the good of Scottish livestock producers and the wider red meat industry and that must remain their primary focus throughout this consultation process.

“Rather than closure, we urge SRUC to take a long term view, build on the facilities and services it already provides at Auchincruive and strive to deliver a higher health status for livestock in Ayrshire and the surrounding counties.”  

Notes to Editors

• SRUC’s consultation on the future of veterinary disease surveillance in Scotland closes on 10 July 2015. The consultation was launched on 2 June 2015 to gather views on proposals for potential changes involving the Inverness and Ayr Disease Surveillance Centres (DSCs). The consultation is at http://www.sruc.ac.uk/diseasesurveillanceconsultation
• A photograph of Ayrshire Regional Chairman John Wildman is available on request from media@nfus.org.uk

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006