Animal Health News

DAERA has confirmed that the bluetongue virus has been detected in two cows on a holding near Bangor in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. 

The latest RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force Report has been released, marking the final update in the RUMA Targets Task Force 2 cycle. This release completes another important phase in the livestock industry’s antibiotic stewardship journey, as it gears up to launch the third cycle of targets next week. 

A young farming couple who lost nearly a quarter of their suckled calf crop to cryptosporidiosis in 2023 have taken a belt-and-braces approach to ensure such devastating losses never happen again.

Rising cases of avian influenza across the UK mean that commercial and some backyard poultry keepers in England are now legally required to house their birds and step up on their biosecurity. 

All poultry and captive birds on farms across Northern Ireland must now be kept indoors following the confirmation of new bird flu cases.

DSM-Firmenich, the manufacturer of the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer, has responded to allegations from Danish farmers that the product is linked to recent cattle illnesses and deaths. 

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that the UK government is not adequately prepared for the most severe animal disease outbreaks.

DEFRA confirmed that due to the escalating number and expanding area of cases of avian influenza, the prevention zone with mandatory housing measures will be extended to the whole of England.

Welsh Government announced that an all-Wales Restricted Zone (RZ) for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) will be introduced from 10th November.  

In response to increased findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds, confirmation of new cases in poultry and kept birds, and amid increasing risk levels, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with housing measures will be introduced for north, central and parts of east of England to to help reduce the risk of further outbreaks. 

Representatives of the Welsh farming industry have responded to the latest government announcement regarding bovine TB and changes to resolved inconclusive reactors.

Specialist vet Ben Strugnell shared advice on calf rearing in a webinar for GB Calf Week, based on key learnings from post-mortems.