News

Further bluetongue cases confirmed

Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 5 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a holding in the Sandwich Bay area.

From Wednesday 13th December 2023, a registered farm vet will be able to digitally record a Vet Attestation for sheep keepers on the Livestock Information Service.

We are pleased to inform you that you can now use the Livestock Information Service portal (England) to digitally record a vet attestation for a sheep keepers’ holding.

From success with control of sheep scab to the creation of a new podcast series, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is delighted with what has been achieved in 2023 – and looks forward to more in 2024.

Following routine surveillance, a further 2 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a farm near Cantley, Broadland, Norfolk.  A 10km temporary control zone (TCZ) has been declared around the premises and both animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. Movement restrictions apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants.

This message relates to the option of further differential diagnostic investigation of cases where notifiable disease has been reported to APHA and subsequently negated either on clinical grounds by the official APHA vet investigating or following official sampling and laboratory testing.

Following active surveillance within the temporary control zone (TCZ), two further cases have been identified taking the total number of cases to seven. Both cases are linked to a holding with previously confirmed cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

Welcome to the latest issue of the RH&W newsletter.

It’s certainly been a busy, and at times challenging, month for the agricultural sector and RH&W.

A new post, “Annual health and welfare review of livestock now available to more farmers in England” has just been published on the Farming blog.

Following active surveillance within the 10km temporary control zone (TCZ), a further four cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) have been identified in cattle on two additional farms.

Figures from the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, published during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), show a sharp increase in vets reporting concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) when following the cascade to make prescribing decisions.

BVA is currently looking for new members of BVA Council, based in Scotland, North West, East of England, and South West.

Farmers, vets, organisations and industry professionals from across the whole sheep industry  have joined forces, through Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W), to launch the new UK Sheep Welfare Strategy for 2023-2028.

The strategy, which is the first of its kind for the sector, is designed to help the whole industry show progress in sheep welfare by 2028.