British Cattle Veterinary Association

Cattle carry zoonotic bacteria such as VTEC O157, Campylobacter jejuni/coli and Salmonella serovars, which can be transmitted to humans through contaminated beef, milk and environments or via direct contact with the animals. To reduce the amount of bacteria that young stock shed into the environment, a 7 point plan of feasible management practices has been created from evidence based on population based field studies. The 7 point plan consists of: Dry and clean bedding, stable rearing groups, empty and clean water trough every 2-3 weeks, rodent control, closed herd (or at least closed young stock section), avoid young stock contact between herds, leave a down-time period between manure spreading on or close to grazing fields before allowing cattle to graze.