Investing in Health
The Moss and ULiSES*
*University of Liverpool Spongiform Encephalopathy Scheme

Message from John Moores about why we did this research:

We were a most successful herd and then BSE struck. Our friends and customers all over the country were devastated.

We went to numerous meetings and consulted widely, but nobody could find the answer, so we decided that proper research should be undertaken on this horrible disease. We made the important decision to set up a laboratory and close our herd so that the research could be carried out. This meant our herd was closed to outside blood for five years.

Unfortunately at the end of the five years, Foot & Mouth disease hit the country and, although there was no case near us (we are surrounded by arable land), we were closed for another year.

		A blueprint of a cattle health scheme that can be adapted to any farm.
		A brand new lab dedicated to research into BSE/TSE.
		A team of researchers is in place to further this research.
		Samples are available for work on validating a 'live' test for BSE.
		Additional veterinary pathologists have been trained.
		Publication of the first scientific paper resulting from the project.

THANK YOU to the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Medicine, and in particular to Professor of Epidemiology, Kenton Morgan, for his vision in setting up this unique scheme and for his commitment in making it such a success. We would also like to acknowledge the role played by the Department of Veterinary Pathology, under the auspices of Professor Donald Kelly, and the work done by the pathologists who travelled the country to collect tissue samples from abattoirs.

THANK YOU to all our customers for your impressive co-operation over the past five years in supporting ULiSES. We are told that no single pedigree herd has ever taken part in a research project of this scale and without your help we could not have done it. Sample collection has now ceased. The next phase of ULiSES is for the scientists to do their work. A validated 'live' test could be the Moss' contribution towards complete eradication of BSE from the national herd, and indeed be of interest beyond our borders. Such an achievement would go a long way to restoring consumer confidence in the safety of beef.

The Moss
John & Jane Moores
October 2002

If you want to know more about the Moss' experience, please contact the farm direct.

In view of the above, we have been trying so hard since then to get the very best new blood into our herd. When this was all over and we were able to import new blood, we were desperate to get the very best to maintain the Moss herd. See the Stock Bulls page for how we are achieving this.