Launch of a cattle health program in Switzerland

From October 1, 2021, the Bovine Health Service (SSB) and the Calf Health Service (SSV) merge to create a new animal health service: Santé bovins Suisse (SBS) (Illustration: agriculture.ch). From this merger is born an animal health service benefiting from a broad base, the aim of which is to develop and strengthen preventive medicine and herd medicine in cattle breeding. With offices in Zollikofen and Zurich as well as a branch in French-speaking Switzerland, Santé bovins Suisse will cover the entire Swiss territory. SBS is available to all keepers and veterinarians of bovine livestock. Preventive and herd medicine are gaining in importance in promoting the health of production animals. All approaches to enhancing animal health and welfare, such as the appropriate use of antibiotics, show that early detection of risk factors and preventive measures are critical for the management of individual animals, the herd and profitability of breeding. The Federal Council itself underlined ...