Animal Health News

British meat industry leaders said that the recent seizure of about 600kg of illegal meat in Northern Ireland, following a ban on German animal origin produce due to the foot-and-mouth disease, should be a “wake-up call” for the government.

Developing and empowering the wider farm team could be the foundation of improving mobility and foot health on many farms, according to Matt Dobbs, chair of the Stride Mobility Technical Board.

A dairy farmer managing a chronic bovine TB breakdown has eliminated a major disease threat to his herd by no longer buying in cattle. 

The Williams family have been farming in South Wales since 1940, and credit keeping a closed herd with managing to keep the bloodline going without breaks.

Defra has issued a statement in regard to an “inaccurate media coverage” of foot and mouth disease (FMD) controls with reports that it took six or seven days to implement Defra’s restrictions on German imports.

A recent survey of over 100 sheep producers has highlighted that 58% of respondents will consider feeding milk replacer cold to surplus lambs this season and view the method as a viable alternative to feeding warm milk during the busy lambing period.

In response to increased findings of highly pathogenic bird flu in wild birds as well as new cases in poultry and kept birds, coupled with heightened risk levels, the avian influenza housing measures are being extended to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease.

Defra has been requested to provide a timeline of response to the report of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Germany. The Efra committee heard in evidence that a government IT system took six to seven days to implement Defra’s restrictions on German imports.

A case of bluetongue serotype 12 was confirmed in England in a single cow in the restricted zone in Kent. This is the first time the serotype has been detected in the UK.

Experts shared their advice for optimising calf health through vaccination and housing space during a recent Teagasc webinar.

SCOPS and COWS have offered advice on using the very limited number of products available for treating liver fluke.

Welsh poultry farmers urged not to be complacent as AIPZ introduced in response to the growing threat of avian flu.