Court of Appeal success reinforces value of badger cull injunction
The Court of Appeal’s unanimous dismissal of an animal rights activist’s appeal after he was found in breach of a High Court injunction reinforces the value and importance of the injunction for protecting farmers, the NFU said today. Jay Tiernan, who has been described as the leader of the ‘Stop the Cull’ movement, launched an […]
Avian Flu confirmed in Lancashire
A case of H7N7 avian flu has now been confirmed in Lancashire. A temporary control zone imposed on Friday at the affected farm has now been replaced by a 10 kilometre surveillance zone and an inner 3 kilometre protection zone. Restrictions remain in place and the humane culling of all birds at the farm is […]
Swine flu changing, meeting told
Diagnosing swine influenza from clinical signs has become more difficult in recent years because the course of the disease has changed. This was the message given to experts from the UK, Denmark, France, Spain, Poland, The Netherlands and Germany who met in Woerlitz, Germany, at a meeting organised by IDT Biologika to discuss the role […]
Mid-season worm pressures affect dairy cattle herds
Managing mid-season worm pressures could have significant economic and performance benefits for dairy herds. This is the advice from the COWS industry steering group (Control of Worms Sustainably) this summer. Anthelmintic resistance is a growing concern in the dairy industry. As the peak parasite season approaches, careful monitoring of dairy heifer condition is essential. The […]
BVA and BVA Northern Ireland Branch welcome reduction in brucellosis testing regime
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and BVA Northern Ireland Branch welcome the DARD’s announcement that the brucellosis testing regime is to be reduced. As Northern Ireland awaits the EU’s response to the application for Northern Ireland to be declared Officially Brucellosis Free (OBF), both BVA and BVA Northern Ireland Branch see this as testament to […]
TB strategy must be implemented immediately to keep farmer support together
The government must implement its 25-year TB eradication strategy immediately and in full to ensure farmer support for it remains strong, NFU President Meurig Raymond has said. Mr Raymond said: “Farmers throughout the country have supported the strategy but are becoming frustrated at the lack of action surrounding the introduction of its various elements. “The […]
Managing dry cows at grass
Body condition scoring dry cows on grass is the only way to keep track of their performance and to avoid potential problems linked to changing weight, says Adam Collantine, Dugdale Nutrition Dairy Consultant. He says: “Through the winter, whilst dry cows are housed, measuring intakes is a great guide to how suitable the dry cow […]
BVA President celebrates Scotland’s animal welfare successes but warns of challenges ahead
John Blackwell, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), praised Scotland for leading the way in many areas of animal welfare but also warned there are challenges ahead for the Scottish Government and vets in Scotland. Speaking at the BVA’s annual Scottish dinner (Wednesday 13 May 2015) hosted by John Scott MSP at the Scottish […]
BVA calls for change to badger culling method and wider roll-out in England
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called for the four-year culls of badgers in West Somerset and West Gloucestershire to be completed using the ‘tried and tested’ method of cage trapping and shooting only. In light of the results from two years of culling in the two pilot areas, BVA has concluded that it can […]
