First case of MRSA found in UK pig
The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics is calling on the government to urgently carry out a full MRSA survey of the UK pig industry to determine how widespread the superbug is after the first-ever case in a UK pig was found in Northern Ireland [1][2]. The Alliance is also calling for immediate restrictions to be […]
Swine influenza in a third of herds
Aggregated data from surveys in Scotland and Northern Ireland show that more than a third of herds surveyed are positive for swine influenza, according to Merial Animal Health. Between the surveys just over 280 farms were assessed and serology demonstrated that 34% were positive1 2. This compares to research on pig farms in England carried […]
Arla Foods amba milk price
Arla Foods amba is reducing its owner on-account price by €1.25 cents per kg, with effect from 4 August 2014. When applied through the pricing mechanism, this reduction equates to an overall 0.94 pence reduction in Arla’s UK standard litre price, taking the standard litre to 31.58 pence. The adjustment is made up of a […]
Cure not Kill – Government presses ahead with badger vaccination scheme
Plans to vaccinate badgers in areas close to high-risk bovine TB (bTB) hotspots have been launched today by Defra. The move, welcomed by Care for the Wild and the Badger Trust, will fund charities and other organisations to inoculate badgers against the disease which leads to the deaths of thousands of cows each year. The […]
Increased new entrants to the dairy industry promising for agriculture in Wales
An increase in the number of new entrants to the dairy sector, have been described as extremely positive for the industry by the Farmers’ Union of Wales today. “With the abolition of milk quotas in 2015, new entrants will have a positive starting platform and this has been recognised by the almost 200 new dairy […]
HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2014 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, has been given to Dr Bert Lambooij DVM of […]
Replace, Reduce, Refine – A way forward for use of antibiotics in agriculture
A framework for replacement, reduction and refinement needs to be established for the responsible use of antimicrobials along the food supply chain. This is one of the main findings put forward by a top-level roundtable, Antimicrobials – Who Needs Them, chaired by the sustainable farming research and development business, the Food Animal Initiative, and pharmaceutical […]
Farmer’s journey ‘to hell and back’ after first ever positive TB test
A farmer whose herd of pedigree Jersey cows was established 110 years ago by his great-grandfather has told how his family has been “to hell and back” following the farm’s first positive TB test. Ian Corner said he hadn’t brought any animals onto his farm in Oxfordshire for 14 years and his cows had no […]
MPs told: Owen Paterson is ‘playing politics’ with wildlife protection
Owen Paterson made no attempt to meet the Independent Expert Panel following the publication of their highly critical report into last year’s pilot badger culls, according to panel member Professor Tim Coulson. Speaking at meeting on Monday hosted by the Badger Trust & Care for the Wild and attended by over 40 MPs, researchers and […]
