Sheep News

The discovery of a strain of avian influenza in a sheep for the first time should be a reminder to sheep keepers of the importance of biosecurity on holdings with poultry, said the National Sheep Association.

The UK’s chief veterinary officer has confirmed a case of influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in a single sheep in Yorkshire following repeat positive milk testing.   

A livestock vet, John Hemingway from Shropshire Farm Vets, is urging farmers to mark and test any ewes that abort this year or to submit abortion material immediately for analysis to identify the cause and prevent further catastrophic losses. 

Derbyshire Rural Crime Team is a part of a pioneering project that analyses canine DNA from livestock and can be used following dog attacks. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has expressed concerns following the release of UK trade figures, which revealed a significant increase in sheep meat imported to the UK in 2024. 

Defra’s latest Farm Business Income report predicts which sectors will see a rise or fall in income over 2024/25.

Elanco’s free Blowfly Watch service has re-launched to keep farmers informed of the risk of blowfly strike in their local area.

A Lincolnshire farm has been celebrating an unprecedented lambing season as it has just welcomed its 10th set of triplets. 

Norfolk shepherdess Hannah Murrell is gearing up for her first lambing season. The 24-year-old shepherdess is expecting up to 300 rare and native breed lambs to be born in the next few weeks at Gawdy Hall Estate in Harleston.

Yorkshire farmer Tom Carlisle wanted to put a smile on other farmers’ faces with his parody lambing track, inspired by the theme song for Only Fools and Horses.

A sheep that was shot on a Suffolk rare breeds farm has made a full recovery, having recently given birth to “gorgeous” twins. 

Farm animals worth almost £1.8 million were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2024. This marks a decrease of 26% compared to the previous year, NFU Mutual has reported.