Sheep News

Two British farmers will be trying to break the world’s record in sheep shearing this summer. 

Sheep and a lamb had drowned after being chased by dogs into a reservoir. 

In a straw poll conducted at ScotSheep 2024, 80% of farmers considered thin ewes to be a problem in their flock, 86% had heard of Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD), however, only 49% had received advice from their vet, and 54% were considering testing. 

Two industry stalwarts have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours List for their services to farming.

The National Sheep Association said the Welsh Government has not responded to its requests to join the new Farming Roundtable.

After surging prices in the first half of 2024, the sheep meat sector will be challenged in the second half of the year with falling production and tight budgets impacting consumer demand.

Heidi Bell is one of only eight Babydoll sheep breeders in the UK, and she’s determined to save this incredibly rare breed.

A great calibre of livestock was in attendance at this year’s Royal Bath & West Show, and no stone was left unturned by judges in the ring, the organiser confirms. 

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.

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

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