An important considera on, given the high targets for emissions reduction and habitat restoration, is to consider where peatland conservation on and restoration on may be most desirable. To aid this process, a decision support tool has been developed that summarises all of the information on that is available at the national scale on peatland locations and various condition indicators.
Peatland drainage in Scotland has been carried out for over a century, to prepare peatland for afforestation, agricultural or grouse moorland use. Drainage leads to peatland degradation and carbon release, in the form of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and the release of carbon into waterways. There are few records remaining of where drainage has taken place in Scotland, although this information is vital to enable accurate emissions accounting in the UK GHG Inventory and to assess priority areas to fulfil the ambitious peatland restoration and rewetting targets in the Climate Change Plan.
By applying our unique skills in sheep immunology, we have discovered that BTV can infect and kill the very cells that stimulate the production of antibodies, This was the first description of such mechanism in a sheep disease and provides a unique perspective on how arboviruses can cause rapid and fatal diseases. ​
SEFARI aims to deliver ‘Leading Ideas for Better Lives’, reflecting that publicly funded research in Scotland must ultimately deliver positive impact for individuals, whether in Scotland or elsewhere. Whilst this work takes place across a number of sectors, this briefing focuses on examples of environmental research funded within the SRP.
A Powerpoint presentation on ruminant nematode vaccine development
A Powerpoint presentation on the use and cost/benefits of vaccines for treating livestock
A poster summarising two trials testing the immunity of sheep to T. Circumcincta once treated with a recombinant vaccine; the trials found that sheep treated with this vaccine had higher levels of protection against this parisitic nematode in the definitive host.
Established health schemes to control Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) on Scottish farms and subsequently underpinned the rationale for cost-effective control strategies that have been adopted in health schemes around the UK. The farm-level savings to the industry from future eradication are estimated by Scottish Government to be £50-£80m.
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is an economically important disease of cattle that causes abortion, infertility, and may increase rates of respiratory and gastro-intestinal disorders. The Scottish BVD eradication programme, led by the Scottish cattle industry and supported by Scottish Government, has had significant impact since 2010 - 90% of breeding holdings now have negative BVD status
Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is a common and costly disease in beef suckler and dairy herds worldwide. BVD leads to fertility problems in cows, death in persistently infected (PI) animals and predisposes animals of all ages to infection with other agents such as respiratory and enteric pathogens. PI animals play an important role in the transmission of the infection.
Valid diagnostics and effective disease control measures such as vaccination are available. Various European countries aim to eradicate BVD in their livestock. In Scotland, Shetland has successfully eradicated the disease.