Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is investing £500,000 to
upgrade the veterinary disease surveillance centre in St Boswells, in the
Scottish Borders.
The refurbishment of the veterinary disease surveillance
centre will extend the life of the building for decades and improve the
facilities to support animal health and livestock production.
The works will overhaul the interior and exterior, and
upgrade the lab facilities and employee spaces. The post-mortem room will be upgraded
with a new hydraulic table and a new design of cradle to improve efficiency and
safety when examining adult cattle post mortem. Floor, wall and drainage
improvements will maximise hygiene and safety.
New energy-saving lighting will help reduce the carbon
footprint of the building.
Based at Greycrook in St Boswells, SRUC Veterinary
Services provides animal health diagnostics for livestock across the Borders,
Midlothian and East Lothian and more widely when required.
The St Boswells veterinary team support farm veterinary
practitioners in their work to reduce the impact of disease on livestock and
also contribute to the collection of disease information that is used
nationally to improve livestock production efficiency and animal welfare
throughout Scotland.
George Caldow, head of SRUC Veterinary Services, said:
“The St Boswells centre is an important part of the national disease
surveillance programme helping to improve animal health and support farm
production.
“The refurbishment of St Boswells will help secure this
service for many years to come and provide a focal point for farm animal health
across the region.”
The post-mortem room is now closed for a few weeks while
the refurbishment work is carried out. The veterinary team will provide post-mortem
services from an alternative location nearby. More information has been sent to
veterinary practitioners who should be the point of call for farmers.
