News

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed a case of influenza of avian origin (H5N1) in a single sheep in Yorkshire following repeat positive milk testing.

Scanning and lambing are stressful, busy times for vets and farmers, even more so when things go wrong. At these times it is still imperative to use evidence to guide our thinking and actions. The Bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg (SBV) viruses have dominated so much of our thoughts and conversations in the last few months. Even so, where they are suspected, testing for these viruses is essential, not only for national surveillance purposes, but also for animal health and welfare.

This study is a repeat of a survey we ran at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Science and Medicine during the initial outbreak of Schmallenberg virus in Europe in 2012/13 and again during the outbreaks in 2017 and 2023. The 2017 study is available at this url (open access): https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1136/vr.104866 .

DEFRA have urged vets and livestock keepers to be vigilant in looking out for signs of foot and mouth (FMD) after the recent outbreak in Hungary:

From today (Tuesday 26th Februrary) livestock farmers can apply for funding for both the animal health and welfare review and the endemic disease follow-up for more than one Pathway eligible species. This was trailed in the Secretary of State’s speech to the NFU conference yesterday and is now live.

Speaking at the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) annual Westminster Dinner last night (Wednesday 26 February), addressing members of the veterinary profession, MPs and peers – including Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs – BVA President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux welcomed the Government’s ongoing engagement with the profession over the urgent need to reform the ‘outdated’ Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. She also called for regulation of practices, recognition of allied professionals and legal protection for the veterinary nurse title.

Welsh Ministers have agreed to licence three Bluetongue (BTV-3) vaccines for emergency use across Wales, in line with a request from farming industry representatives.

Vets and stakeholders across the ruminant sector are being urged to support a new industry campaign which encourages farmers in England to consult their vet about vaccinating their herd or flock against Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) this spring.

The agreement number must start with IAHW and not AHWR. If the agreement number was issued before the end of 19th June 2024, it will start with AHWR and AHWR agreements now only allow for a single claim for a Review.

Within the range of tools available to producers to monitor liver fluke, experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in […]

APHA will again subsidise Schmallenberg (SBV) testing this lambing and calving season, and offer the testing free of charge in England and Wales.

Working with partners Biobest and Queens University Belfast, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is exploring a method that could provide farmers and their vets and advisers with valuable information on the worm species present in dung samples.