Health & Welfare

The British Equine Association (BEVA) has published a new horse health checklist to help owners care for their animals.

Following the success of last year's events The National Bee Unit's Inspectorate team has joined forces with beekeeping associations across Wales to deliver a series of comb workshops to help beekeepers indentify key disease threats to their bees.

The abandonment of horses and ponies, or fly grazing as the problem has become commonly known, is in simple terms the action of irresponsible owners who release their horses onto land over which they have no authority to graze.

Since 1 January 2013 provisions introduced by the EU Pig Directive that lay down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, have come into effect in the UK and across the European Community.

The first meeting of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) steering group in 2013 was held on the 30th of January with a full agenda.

The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group believes that good bio-security is the cornerstone of a health and welfare planning process that can protect livestock and farming communities from the devastating impact of disease and is crucial to safeguarding the future of food production in ...

The livestock industry has launched a survey aimed at capturing the impact of last year’s poor weather and prevalence of disease (including Schmallenberg Virus) on the lamb crop across Great Britain.

A consultation on the future delivery of scanning surveillance for animal related threats in England and Wales.

With the cold weather set to continue and snow forecast for parts of Wales, the Welsh Government is reminding farmers of their legal responsibilities during periods of severe weather.

Approval of the UK bovine TB eradication programme for 2013 has been secured from the European Commission.

The first year of the badger vaccination project in the Intensive Action Area (IAA) has been completed.

International experts gathered in Cardiff in December to consider how cattle vaccination could contribute to TB eradication in Wales in the future.

International experts have gathered in Cardiff to consider how cattle vaccination could contribute to TB eradication in Wales and beyond.

A group of 21 farmers from West Wales recently visited one of the top-performing suckler cow farms in the UK, a 420 acre Less Favoured Area holding in the Derbyshire Peak District.

If you are pregnant, you should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season as you could be at risk from infections that occur in some ewes.

On 1 January 2011 a number of key changes took effect in relation to TB terminology and TB breakdown policy.

The chairs of the Regional TB Eradication Boards would like to remind farmers and vets that the cattle passport sticker scheme can make a real difference in keeping cattle purchasers informed about testing dates.

Farmers are now able to vaccinate their livestock against Bluetongue using approved vaccines.

Peredur Hughes, Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group, has issued the following reminders to farmers on protecting their livestock from disease, following the wet summer.

Since being appointed chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) steering group in Wales, I have been getting up to speed with the Group’s activities.

Views are sought from food business operators livestock and poultry keepers, animal welfare organisations, veterinarians, faith groups and the public.

The Wales Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) Steering Group has agreed their animal disease priorities for Wales for 2012/13.

Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) antibodies have recently been detected in three cows and one calf on premises in Ceredigion.

Plans aimed at protecting the welfare of animals at the time of their killing have been launched by Environment Minister, John Griffiths.

Anglesey farmer, Peredur Hughes, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group.

Pig farmers will be familiar with the sow stall ban implemented by the UK in 1999. The sow stall ban meets the requirements set by the EU Pig Directive, laying down the minimum standards for the protection of pigs.

Successful and efficient livestock farming is based on healthy animals and high quality, safe produce. There are several aspects to ensuring high standards of animal health and welfare, one of which is the detection of new diseases through effective disease surveillance

Sheep scab is a major welfare concern to the sheep industry and is caused by a mite (Psoroptes ovis) that is transmitted by direct contact with infected sheep or contaminated objects.

Liver fluke can have a major impact on the performance of cattle and sheep. Fluke can reduce the market value per finished animal by between 10 and 15 percent.

The National Bee Unit’s Bee Inspectorteam in Wales have joined with local beekeepers associations to deliver a series of workshops across Wales. The workshops have been designed to help participants develop their knowledge, understanding and diagnosis of the key disease threats to their bees.

If your authorisation has expired and you have notreceived a new Transporter Authorisation from Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), you must ACT NOW. Instructions and application packs are available through the web address below or from (AHVLA) Welfare in Transport (WIT) team.

The Welsh Government is considering introducing legislation that would require all dogs in Wales to be microchipped. The information relating to the microchip and ownership of the animal would be recorded on an approved database.

The term ‘fly grazing’ has been commonly used to describe an issue that is causing farmers concern in South Wales relating to straying or abandoned horses.

With the lambing season now upon us, the Welsh Government and Health and Safety Executive has issued a reminder to pregnant women that they should avoid close contact with farm animals that are giving birth.

A novel viral disease of cattle, sheep and goats, which has been named Schmallenberg virus (SBV), first detected in northern mainland Europe last summer, has now been identified in England.

Tail docking of sheep is commonly used by livestock keepers to prevent problems with dirty tails and fly strike.

Lead poisoning makes up more than half of the on-farm poisoning incidents reported to the Food Standards Agency each year and most cases occur in cattle, soon after turn out.

The ban on the production of eggs in conventional (battery) cages across the European Union came into effect on 1 January 2012.

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by a small protozoan parasite that infects cells lining the intestines of lambs.

The Welsh Government is looking for an independent Chair for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS)Steering Group.

A novel viral disease of cattle, sheep and goats, which has been named Schmallenberg virus (SBV), first detected in northern mainland Europe last summer, has now been identified in eastern England. This virus appears to belong to a group of viruses that are spread by insect vectors, most likely the ...

A natural feed supplement aimed at producing healthy premium milk all year round is under development in Wales with support from the Welsh Government.

If you are pregnant, you should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season as you could be at risk from infections that occur in some ewes.

by Roger Daniel, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Carmarthen.

Cleansing and disinfection (C&D) is an important disease control measure which you should use to reduce the risk of spreading disease to your livestock and to those on neighbouring farms.

Dogs Trust has had an enthusiastic response from the farming community in Wales following efforts to urge farmers to consider neutering and micro-chipping their dogs.

by David Harwood AH/VLA Winchester.

by Suzanna Bell, Veterinary Investigation Officer, AHVLA Aberystwyth

Transport authorisations were required from January 2007, following the implementation of European Council Regulation 1/2005, to improve the welfare of animals during transport.

Following a successful pilot by the British Pig Executive (BPEX), new legislation enables electronic reporting of pig movements.