The CHeCS Board wishes to express its sadness regarding the announcement of the immediate closure of Biobest and their HiHealth Herdcare cattle health scheme. CHeCS understands that Biobest, operator of the HiHealth Herdcare cattle health scheme, has faced major disruptions over the past year due to essential upgrades to its rabies testing lab, resulting in…

New CHECS ‘best practice’ protocols to control infectious cattle disease have been released today (12 June), coinciding with a step-up of pressure on tackling Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) across UK and Ireland. Included in the latest version of the CHECS Technical Document is a new way for dairy herds to indicate low risk for BVD…

This autumn, Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS ) is introducing an additional level of Johne’s Disease Risk-Level Certification – RL1*. The new Risk Level 1* will be awarded to RL1 herds which have a negative blood test for Johne’s Disease. Risk Level 1 herds containing animals that have a blood positive test for Johne’s, that…

After five years as Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS) Chair, Welsh dairy farmer Abi Reader is standing down from the role due to other commitments. The CHECS Board would like to thank Ms Reader for her dedication and time whilst in the role and are delighted that she will continue to be a member of…

CHECS is delighted to announce that APHA have advised that they are able to re-start providing the 10 year TB history for new CHECS TB Accreditation Scheme applicants from Monday 12th December. Please note that response time may initially be a bit longer, if there is a surge in applications, until the number of applications…

CHECS is seeking a new Chair to implement the recommendations outlined in the CHECS Strategy report. The CHECS Board believe that the plans outlined in this document offer an excellent way forward for CHECS and also that it properly reflects the views of those on and outside of the Board and this strategy now needs…

CHECS has published its new strategy following a period of discussion and development over the summer between the board and other industry stakeholders. Discussions are now being had over how to take this strategy forward and implement the 10 recommendations, so that CHECS can continue to play a valuable and respected role in supporting high…

CHECS is rolling out a new UK-wide TB Entry Level Membership over the coming months, focusing on biosecurity ‘basics’ to help farmers reduce the risk of TB breakdowns in their herds. Bovine TB has a devastating impact on farmers and their cattle. It is the UK’s most challenging animal health and welfare issue, costing farms…

Following on from the statement below which was issued by CHECS on the 8th April 2020, at the onset of Covid-19 in the UK and the nationwide lockdown when many farms were unable to undertake herd testing: “CHECS therefore advises that health status will be suspended when testing becomes overdue, but it can be reinstated…

A survey of 240 veterinary surgeons and advisers across the UK has overwhelmingly pinpointed lameness as the top health and welfare challenge facing cattle farmers and vets, with infectious disease second and lack of investment third. The online survey was carried out in June by CHECS, which sets standards for infectious disease control and quality…