Senior medics call on government to immediately ban the routine use of antibiotics in UK farming
In an unprecedented move, fifteen senior medics have written to the UK government calling for urgent action to tackle the routine misuse of antibiotics in UK farming. Signatories to the letter, which was published today in The Telegraph to coincide with World Antibiotic Awareness Week, include the President of the Royal Society of Medicine – […]
Big data analysis shows weak link between badgers and cattle for TB transmission
The largest simulation to date of the numbers of cattle and badgers infected with tuberculosis (TB) casts serious doubts about the extent to which badgers cause TB in cattle, according to research from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Using a mathematical model that combines a huge number of cattle and badgers that have TB, […]
Bovine TB will cost us trade deals with Europe, FUW reminds AMs
The Farmers’ Union of Wales is reminding all Assembly Members that the current levels of Bovine TB in Wales will cost us trade deals with Europe if there is no change in policy. The Union welcomes the call for a debate on the eradication of bovine TB in cattle and wildlife at the National Assembly […]
Defra TB strategy announcement
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “Bovine TB remains a huge threat to beef and dairy farmers in large parts of the country. More than 28,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of it and nearly 4,000 herds that had previously been clear of the disease were affected by it. “Farmers facing a daily […]
EFSA reviews maximum content of copper in animal feed
EFSA has proposed modifications to the maximum levels of copper in feed for some animal groups. It recommends a reduction in the maximum copper content in feed for piglets, cattle and dairy cows, and an increase in feed for goats. The proposed levels would reduce the amount of copper released into the environment, which could […]
New classification of zinc additive in the EU: Zinc chelate of protein hydrolysates
The European Commission recently published new regulations for the reauthorisation of zinc feed additives in the European Union (EU). The new regulation approves the use of zinc feed additives for a period of 10 years and contains a number of changes compared to the previous authorisation in relation to placing zinc additives on the […]
Vets welcome global joint working to defeat resistant superbugs
The global Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), commissioned by the UK government and chaired by Lord O’Neill, has published (19 May) its final report calling for incentives to develop antibiotics, improved diagnostics and vaccines, and country-specific targets for the reduction of antimicrobial use in livestock. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed Lord O’Neill’s final […]
Vet wins award for preventing lameness in sheep
Oxford vet Ruth Clements has won a national award for her work preventing lameness in sheep. Ruth is Head of Veterinary Services at FAI Farms, an organisation which helps the food sector implement better farming practices. Since 2001, FAI have farmed and operated 1,650 acres of Oxford University farmland – collaborating with a number of […]
Anti antibiotics: Addressing routine overuse in farming
The Shadow Secretaries of State for Defra and Health, Kerry McCarthy MP and Heidi Alexander MP, have written an open letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defra Secretary Liz Truss, asking them to respond positively to proposals for reducing the routine, overuse of antibiotics in farming. The letter comes amid growing concern that current […]
