Sheep News

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is concerned the rise in dog ownership in the UK since the pandemic and increasingly seen behavioural issues in dogs highlighted by recent statistics could be behind the spike in sheep worrying attacks reported by farmers across the country.

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.

Having confirmed payments for last year’s wool clip, British Wool acknowledged the prices will be disappointing to members and said the organisation is doing everything it can to navigate what is currently a ‘very challenging environment’ for raw material suppliers.

High tech portable chambers for measuring methane emissions from sheep are being used on a UK farm for the first time.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the launch of ‘Gwaredu Scab’, a first-of-its-kind project funded by the Welsh government that aims to tackle sheep scab outbreaks by offering farmers a free service covering the diagnosis and treatment of infected sheep.

An updated costing model has revealed farmers could lose £209 per lamb and £184 per breeding ewe that falls victim to blowfly strike, which means administering treatment only after animals are struck is no longer cost-effective.

Further recent discussions on reintroducing lynx to the Scottish countryside have prompted calls to protect diverse farmland habitats, livestock and the people that manage them.

With lamb featuring as the main ingredient on the official Coronation menu, and thousands of military uniforms having been finely crafted from British wool, produce from the nation’s sheep farmers is playing an important part in the Coronation celebrations.

Sheep farmers are being reminded to test sheep before and after drenching to determine which animals need worming and ensure their chosen treatment is working properly.

A host of professional shearing talent will be racing against time at the Royal Bath & West Show this year, including world record holder shearer Jon Roberts from Robertsacre Farm in Dartmoor.

Sheep farmers and industry professionals are invited to a series of free events taking place in Cornwall next month to learn about the results of a pilot study exploring the potential of introducing worm-tolerant genetics into flocks.

With the aim of improving the choice of top-performing rams throughout the UK, AHDB’s Signet Breeding Services have launched new breeding values for abattoir traits, which will form an integral part of the National Terminal Sire Evaluation going forward.