Animal Health News

Farmers are being encouraged to assess the risk of abortion in their sheep ahead of the next tupping season and work with their vet if necessary to minimise lamb losses next year.

Livestock farmers will continue to have uninterrupted access to key cobalt salts as emergency authorisation for cobalt in livestock feeds has been granted for England and Wales following approval in Scotland.

Farmers are being urged to carry out regular faecal egg count (FEC) testing before drenching lambs to get an accurate estimation of worm burden across groups, as a more targeted approach to parasite control can save producers time, money and labour.

A vaccine developed by Scottish scientists that is considered one of the most significant advances in global livestock health over the last 25 years has been given renewed recognition as part of this year’s RHASS Presidential Initiative.

A new app for poultry farmers and backyard keepers has been launched to improve disease reporting and tracking and help limit the spread of disease, as the government continues to impose strict rules amid the country’s worst-ever avian flu outbreak.

The UK pig industry is leading the way in the fight against antibiotic resistance, having surpassed the 30% reduction target in total antibiotic use set by the RUMA Targets Task Force (TTF) between 2020 and 2024, AHDB figures have revealed.

The yeast fermentation additive Celmanax has been shown by a recent study to increase daily liveweight gains and reduce finishing times in lambs that received supplementation, saving farmers £18.91 per head when feed cost was taken into account.

Farmers are invited to fill out a short 10-minute survey relating to bovine TB as part of a new research project led by The Farming Community Network (FCN), which seeks to better understand the impact of this devastating disease on farmers’ lives and wellbeing.

A specific temperature pattern has been identified that indicates early onset of mastitis, which could enhance dairy cow welfare and reduce economic losses for farmers.

Following a scorching summer last year and with temperatures currently on the rise, pig producers are being urged to manage heat stress to avoid the negative consequences it can have on feeding behaviour, growth rates and animal welfare.

Livestock farmers are being warned about the increased risk of grass staggers in cattle and sheep as a result of this year’s wet spring, with Rumenco nutritionist Dr Alison Bond advising supplementation to balance a lower-than-average magnesium intake from grass.

Farmers are being encouraged to prioritise fly control now and protect their livestock, as warm and wet weather is set to accelerate maggot and fly emergence.