Animal Health

As grass growth rate and quality starts its usual decline over the later summer months, autumn calving suckler herds are being urged to monitor cow condition score closely this year.

With temperatures forecast to rise above 25°C, cattle producers should be prepared to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on their beef and dairy animals.

Vaccinating pigs for Lawsonia intracellularis can increase pig unit productivity and average daily live weight gain by 60g/pig, according to recent trials.

World-leading bovine TB cattle vaccination trials are set to begin in England and Wales after a major breakthrough by government scientists.

The latest blowfly risk alert from Nadis and Elanco shows that the whole of the UK is now at risk of either ‘high’ or ‘severe’ risk of fly strike.

Pig farmers could save up to half a day’s work each month and dramatically improve piglet welfare by combining iron and coccidiosis treatments in the early days, according to Bayer.

Britain’s widely variable and unpredictable summer temperatures can put poultry units at high risk of heat stress, warns NFU Mutual Risk Management Services.

Balancing the correct choice of energy sources and buffer feeding will be key to optimising dairy herd productivity, advises nutritional supplement manufacturer UFAC-UK, in the light of seasonal lower grass yields.

A new nationwide service for the food export industry has been launched by UK veterinary group, VetPartners.

With over 20 different species affecting livestock in the UK, flies are one of the biggest ectoparasite problems faced by farmers across the country. From loss of productivity due to reduced grazing time, through to acting as a vector for diseases, the impact of flies can be significant and, if not appropriately controlled, can even result in livestock fatalities.

Sheep flocks often suffer from an increase in lameness during the later summer months, so much so that shepherds are being urged to implement disease mitigation measures in the run up to weaning.

Vets are calling on the retail and food service sector to give priority to British produce, even if future trade deals enable the import of foods produced to lower standards.