Animal Health News

Bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission is now possible in high-risk counties across England due to recent warm weather, an expert warns.

The Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Wales) Order 2024 will be introduced on 1st July.

Representatives of four UK farming unions agreed that there are real potential benefits of introducing bovine Electronic Identification (bEID), from efficiency and animal health and welfare gains to improving the health and safety of livestock handlers. 

In a recent AHDB Food & Farming podcast, experts gathered to discuss the likelihood of a vaccine for the latest strain of bluetongue virus, which began to appear on farms in Kent and Norfolk last year. Sarah Kidby reports.

There will be a gap in the supply of the EAE (Enzootic Abortion of Ewes) vaccine, Cevac Chlamydia, from June to August, due to a vaccine batch failure.

Farmers out on their tractors and dog walkers will be among the target audience for a new Cumbrian podcast on animal care and welfare.

The government has set out its plan for tackling an outbreak of BTV-3 this summer, as it works to deploy a vaccine.

Veterinary groups have welcomed new legislation banning routine use of antibiotics in farm animals, but warned that a blanket ban of prophylactic treatment could be harmful.

The functioning rumen can be regarded as the boiler house of the bovine animal. Even a slight malfunction in its operation will have profound and widespread metabolic and financial consequences. Dr T.B Barragry, independent veterinary consultant for Provita Eurotech Ltd, offers some advice.

Two vaccines are now available for BTV-3, which first emerged late last year, and have been granted emergency authorisation in two countries.

Action is needed now to prevent blowfly strike as red alerts are being sent to farmers across the South, Midlands and Eastern UK.

Defra has just announced a range of additional funding to tackle endemic diseases in livestock.