Animal Health News

Neogen experts outline the benefits and uses of Neogen Farm Fluid MAX, and share optimal cleaning and disinfection protocols.

The decision to extend the ban on personal imports to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been welcomed by British farming and meat industry leaders. 

A case of human flu in a pig has been confirmed in Northern Ireland. 

“Must be done to minimise the risk,” said NFU Cymru while urging the UK government to tighten border controls to help protect the Welsh livestock industry as the fears over foot-and-mouth disease are increasing. 

Sheep farmers in the South West of England have been warned of the risk of blowfly strike as the local Blowfly Watch risk alert was raised to amber.

Defra has pledged to tackle illegal meat imports by offering £3.1 million in funding for checks at the Port of Dover in 2025/2026. However, the port authority said that this is not enough to protect the livestock sector from potentially devastating disease outbreaks. 

The avian influenza housing measures have been extended in the north of England to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease, Defra confirmed.

Defra has just announced that the free-range poultry meat producers and processors will no longer need to change how free-range poultry meat is labelled when mandatory housing measures are introduced.

The UK government has extended the meat import ban to Austria, following a second foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Hungary, very close to the Austrian border.

Recent data by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) shows that clostridial diseases consistently rank among the most frequent sheep submission diagnoses, prompting vets to remind farmers of the importance of timely vaccination to avoid such losses.

Heat stress is a growing challenge for dairy farmers worldwide. Rising temperatures in combination with high humidity can significantly impact cow health and productivity, leading to lower milk yields, reduced fertility rates, and increased health risks. Effective cow cooling is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Johne’s disease is often missed in sheep, but can cause serious production losses. Sarah Kidby spoke to experts about cost-effective control.