FUW highlights TB concerns to MP
Cross border differences in bTB cattle control measures and concerns surrounding the proposed provision of open access farm-level Welsh bovine TB data next year were some of the issues highlighted to Monmouthshire MP David TC Davies at a recent farm visit. FUW senior officials met Mr Davies at FUW members Rhys and Judith Parry’s farm […]
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 […]
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 […]
£6m funding to improve UK livestock health
Funding for eight projects that aim to improve the health of livestock within the UK has been announced by the Animal Health Research Club (ARC). The club, whose members include Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and other industry organisations, has allocated over £6 million in the second round of funding. In total, £10.8 million […]
Environmental stress triggers costly pig disease without secondary infections
Stress makes pigs more likely to suffer from a disease which costs farmers in the UK millions of pounds a year in attempts to control, scientists have shown for the first time. The findings from a study at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) could influence the conditions that pig herds are kept in to reduce […]
