EXPLAINING SOME TERMINOLOGY
MV or Maedi Visna
Maedi Visna (MV) is a chronic infectious viral disease affecting the lungs and nervous system of sheep. It can be transmitted between individual sheep and flocks.
The virus that causes Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) in goats is very similar to MV virus and there is evidence that cross infection can occur between species. Blood testing allows identification of infection. There is no vaccine, no cure and the disease is fatal.The MV accreditation scheme is voluntary and it allows breeders to demonstrate that their animals have been tested and are accredited free of MV. We highly recommend that you buy animals from properly MV-accredited breeders only. Sheep are frequently advertised as “MV-tested and clear” or similar, but this does not mean the animal concerned is MV accredited or comes from an MV accredited flock.
HighHand Valais Blacknose Sheep are an MV-accredited breeder.
Grouping/Genotype (Group 1, Group 2, Group 3)
The grouping of sheep has to do with the animals’ susceptibility to scrapie, an infectious wasting disease which affects the nervous system of adult sheep. Scrapie is difficult to disinfect against and has a long incubation period. There is no cure, no vaccine and the condition is fatal. Animals pass on their susceptibility to the disease to their offspring. Animals can be genetically tested and their resulting genotype establishes which group they belong to.
Valais Blacknose Sheep are generally classified into 3 groups depending on their genetically predisposed susceptibility:
Group 1: these sheep are genetically most resistant to contracting scrapie
Group 2: these sheep also have high resistance to contracting scrapie.
Group 3: these sheep have genetically little or no resistance to scrapie.
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Classification of a sheep in any of these groups does not in and of itself make it a “better” or “worse” animal. Group 3 sheep can have exemplary overall appearance, conformation and fleece (as can Group 1 and 2 animals). Nevertheless, Group 3 sheep will be much more susceptible to contracting scrapie and as a result these animals are generally not allowed to be sold across international borders.
HighHand Valais Blacknose Sheep concentrate on breeding sheep of Groups 1 and 2 only.
Heptavac-P Plus
Heptavac-P Plus is an injectable immunisation which reduces mortality in sheep and is used in the control of pasteurellosis pneumonia and clostridial diseases in sheep such as lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, struck, tetanus, braxy, blackleg and black disease. Vaccinating a flock with Heptavac-P Plus not only protects sheep against these conditions but also reduces mortality rates throughout the flock.
All of the sheep on the HighHand Valais Blacknose farm are Heptavac-P Plus immunised.
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