Defra ‘beefs up’ BSE safety measures
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has strongly welcomed moves by Defra to further tighten up controls to prevent older cattle entering the food chain as part of the safety measures against BSE. Defra Minister Jim Paice today announced that he has written to the 18,000 keepers of animals born or reared in the UK before […]
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health completes delivery of 12 million doses of foot-and-mouth vaccine to the government of South Korea
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announces today that it has shipped 12 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to South Korea to assist in the countrys efforts to halt the ongoing FMD outbreak. Since early January 2011, when Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health in South Korea received the initial request from the South Korean government, the company has […]
Equiray mobile X-ray service ensures that a valuable stock bull is soon back on his feet!
Equiray, the mobile X-ray specialists are accustomed to travelling to stables and fields to X-ray horses. However, recently they received a call from farmer Roger Collingbourne of the Halomark Simmental Herd, Llantarnam, in Caerleon, South Wales to see if the companys technicians would consider X-raying a bull that was refusing to put one foot to […]
Subsidised diagnostic service for barren ewes
With sheep scanning well underway in many parts of the country, farmers running a flock with a barren rate greater than 2% can now ask for a subsidised flock blood test to establish whether the cause of the problem is toxoplasmosis. Barren EweCheck the diagnostic scheme supported by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is available from vets […]
MP challenges legislation repealing ban on beak trimming of egg-laying hens
Government plans to remove the ban on routine beak trimming of laying hens are under the spotlight this week after a surprise intervention in the House of Commons by Labour MP, John McDonnell. The ban on routine beak-trimming was due to come into force on 1st January 2011. However, because egg producers have failed to […]
Vets back common sense approach to responsibility and cost sharing
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warmly welcomed the report of the independent Advisory Group on Responsibility and Cost Sharing, which has recommended a new Partnership Board to become the sole source of Departmental advice to Defra ministers. The Advisory Group was set up by the Government in September 2009 to advise the Secretary of […]
Pfizer Animal Genetics now running Contractural Arachnodactyly (Fawn Calf) test
Pfizer Animal Genetics is now able to provide genetic testing for Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA) testing. CA is a genetic condition formerly referred to as Fawn Calf Syndrome. In collaboration with Dr. Jon Beever at the University of Illinois and the American Angus Association (AAA) the gene mutation responsible for CA has been identified and a […]
Act now to prevent Springtime problems
Prevention of problems is always better than cure. Its more cost-efficient, takes less time and where livestock is concerned in this case, sheep – reduces stress levels which in-turn enhances performance. Yet it is easy to get into habits that are more reactive, than proactive, usually through being overworked and trying to keep rather too […]
Shortage of forage fibre and bicarb exacerbating National acidosis problems
A lack of good quality first cut silage, low forage fibre levels and a national shortage of sodium bicarbonate mean that many farmers are struggling with acidiosis problems this winter. Last year, reports from DairyCo indicated that as many as half of all UK dairy cows are thought to be suffering from sub-acute ruminal acidosis […]
