Sheep News

After a challenging summer, limited grass in some areas may have affected ewe condition, so forage analysis is critical for rationing heavily pregnant ewes.

For many years the National Sheep Association (NSA) has fought to increase awareness of the devastating issue of sheep worrying by dogs. So, as families prepare for the Christmas holidays, the association that represents UK sheep farmers is angered by a new festive family film inadvertently ignoring the seriousness of the issue.

The dry summer and mild, wet autumn of 2022 has resulted in a high worm challenge on many farms, with reports from around the UK of lambs suffering from the effects of high worm burdens.

Sister and brother Beth and Luke Wilkinson from North Yorkshire took home both the championship and reserve titles during a memorable finale at the 2022 English Winter Fair.

A farmer in North Yorkshire who grazes his sheep on common land has spoken out about the benefits of testing for scab and the importance of breaking the stigma related to the condition.

Lambing season is by far the most demanding time of year for sheep farmers, which is why livestock farmers and Nettex area business managers, Jane Moodie and Gwyn James recommend taking a checklist approach to pre-lambing preparation.

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) said the risk of liver fluke infection in sheep and cattle will be moderate to high in the Central, South and East regions of Northern Ireland (NI) and a high prevalence of the disease is expected in the West this winter.

The four councils, Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork, have published sector plans as part of a commitment to outline how the levy will be invested over the next five years.

Following a major increase in worm egg counts, it is recommended that sheep farmers switch to a newer group 4-AD (orange) wormer for mid-to-late season drenching.

Research has shown that clinical ovine Johne’s disease can cause a 46% reduction in overall productivity. Livestock technical veterinary advisor for Virbac, Kate Ingram, offers advice on prevention.

Yorkshire-based farming couple Liam and Becky McPartland have won the first-ever VetPartners Sheep Sustainability Award in recognition of their success in reducing the use of anthelmintic wormers in sheep by switching to a rotational grazing system.

A recent survey by Herdwatch revealed more than 1,600 farmers said the app saves them an average of three hours a week, allows them to monitor and manage their herd performance more efficiently, and ultimately increases profitability. One dairy farmer from Cornwall even calls the app her “supernanny”.