Animal Health News

Despite a late start to the strike season, warming temperatures mean blowflies are emerging in greater numbers, according to the latest update from Nadis and Elanco.

The government has released the second Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which the NFU says will be welcomed by farmers who have seen an increase in dog attacks on sheep. However, a ban on live exports for fattening and slaughter has prompted questions over how the UK government will ensure British farmers are not undercut in trade deals.

A citizen science study is aiming to explore how easy it is to spot lameness in sheep using a simulation game, to help fight antimicrobial resistance.

Dr T B Barragry, veterinary consultant to Provita Animal Health Ltd, explores the key trace elements, how deficiencies impact cattle and sheep performance and profitability, and how to achieve appropriate supplementation.

Badger vaccination, increased cattle testing and acceleration of a bTB cattle vaccine will form the next part of the government’s bTB eradication strategy, as badger culling is set to be phased out.

Jane Jordan explores some of the latest updates for the pig sector, including whether the farrowing crate can survive growing pressure from the welfare lobby; an innovative in-hut creep feeder; and a new intradermal multi-valent vaccine.

Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) has announced the results to its nationwide ’grassroots’ survey of farmers, stock people and vets on priority livestock diseases and syndromes.

Cargill UK is launching live temperature and humidity data online through the summer months to help dairy farmers and their advisers recognise and mitigate the signs of heat stress in dairy cattle.

In order to help tackle the issue of Post Weaning Diarrhoea (PWD) caused by E. coli in piglets, Elanco is offering farmers free diagnostic testing to identify the bacterial strain and allow for appropriate vaccination.

The new custom-built genomic testing laboratory was opened by the NMR in April 2021, and it has now completed the first 1,000 tests on tissue samples from UK dairy cattle.

Chief vets from England, Scotland and Wales warn that “low risk does not mean no risk” as AIPZ lifted and bird gatherings permitted once more.

Dairy and beef farmers are being urged to change just one thing to improve parasite control, as part of a new campaign by Boehringer Ingelheim to help farmers implement practical, impactful changes.