Animal disease control measures can build agency and empower the island crofters Report

Island-wide animal disease control is being actively discussed on Lewis and Harris, leading to challenges and solutions being identified. Plans to promote and actively move towards positive animal disease control is ongoing. The crofting townships have come together to mobilise the island to dip thousands of sheep against sheep scab. This positive collaboration has led to further action to consider other animal disease control initiatives, such as sourcing faecal egg counting machines to undertake tests on the island. The benefits of being on an island could help with animal disease control if this could be capitalised upon. The physical barrier of the water/sea could become a positive for the crofters and discussions with other livestock keepers and stakeholders on Shetland and Orkney have helped further their development of solutions. Although it is recognised that other islands have unique contexts, initial discussions have been welcomed. Whether the ferry companies can assist, has yet to be made clear. The crofters who joined our discussions believe control could be moved into their hands, and acquiring their own on-island dipping facility may be part of the solution.