Noble Foods and Cranswick Show global leadership on farm animal welfare
British companies, Noble Foods and Cranswick lead the producer sector, not just in the UK but globally when it comes to managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices, according to the global Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report published today (23 January 2017). Noble Foods retained its position in the […]
Sheep and Goat keepers – have you submitted your annual inventory?
Sheep and goat keepers in Wales are being reminded to submit their annual inventory form by February 1, to avoid potential penalties. The form can be submitted by either logging onto the EID Cymru website (www.eidcymru.org) , or by returning the paper form in the pre-paid envelope. Once the form has been submitted keepers will […]
FUW rejects TB regionalisation approach for Wales
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has rejected proposals to split Wales into five bovine TB regions in its response to a Welsh Government consultation, highlighting the need to tackle the disease in badger populations. The Welsh Government proposes splitting Wales into two high, two intermediate and one low TB level regions, with different rules applying […]
New approach to mastitis ‘almost halves’ farmer’s antibiotic costs
At a recent event hosted on Bryn Jones’ farm near Oswestry local farmers heard how AHDB Dairy’s Mastitis Control Plan had helped him to significantly reduce the rate of new clinical mastitis cases and reduce antibiotic use across his 800-cow herd, delivering annual savings of around £57,000. This downward trend is encouraging as the livestock […]
Vets welcome Northern Ireland’s bovine TB eradication strategy
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and BVA Northern Ireland branch today welcomed the launch of the TB Strategic Partnership Group’s (TBSPG) long-term strategy document on bovine TB (bTB) eradication and Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen’s announcement that she will carefully consider the recommendations with a view to consulting on the proposed approach in early 2017. Seamus […]
NBA calls for extension on Government AFU proposal
With changes to Approved Finishing Units (AFUs) in the pipeline, the National Beef Association (NBA) is calling for a four year extension before any phasing out occurs which could cause serious welfare and cash-flow problems for farmers. AFUs were introduced to provide a route for rearing, fattening or finishing cattle from TB restricted and un-restricted […]
HYB announces winner of Australian Exchange Competition
Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) member, Andrew Patton, is ecstatic to be heading down under this January for a month of dairy learning and development, as he wins the HYB Australian Exchange programme. He has also been shortlisted for Holstein UK President’s Medal following interviews at Agriscot. HYB is the next generation of Holstein UK and […]
Leading vet campaigns for radical rethink in parasite control
It’s a fact – according to the World Health Organization – more than two billion people are infected with parasitic worms, including tens of millions of young children and pregnant women. In the UK alone, it is estimated that up to 40 per cent of children under the age of 10 may be affected by […]
A pig’s life: how mood and personality affect the decisions of domestic pigs
The judgements and decisions a pig makes are governed by their mood – whether good or bad – and their personality type, according to new research published today. The new study, carried out by scientists specialising in animal behaviour and welfare at the University of Lincoln and Newcastle University, UK, demonstrates for the first time […]
