News

Latest RH&W newsletter – December

♥222Likes

Latest updates from Ruminant Health & Welfare

Welcome to the final RH&W newsletter of 2025

As we head into the final stretch of the year, I am pleased to reflect on a period of positive momentum for Ruminant Health & Welfare. Over the past 12 months we have completed two substantial reviews of progress, launched a new strategy and published a new dairy industry manifesto. Alongside this, we are already preparing further strategy reports and launches for 2026.

We have also seen encouraging momentum in areas that matter most to animal health and responsible production.

The latest Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) report shows a further drop in antibiotic use, with the reduction remaining consistent. This is a positive direction of travel, but it does not remove the need for continued focus.  Understanding how the level of use impacts resistance in different bacteria is becoming increasingly important.

Bluetongue remains an imminent and evolving challenge. With the disease now spreading to Northern Ireland, it is more important than ever that farmers and the wider industry have clear information on what to look for, how to report concerns and where to find the latest guidance, including vaccination information. You will find more on this below.

Our steering group meetings have continued to provide valuable insight and shared learning. We heard from Chris Lloyd, RUMA Secretary General, who offered an overview on the above VARSS findings on antibiotic use in UK livestock, including key changes in how data are collected and interpreted. We also received an interesting update on The Green Cert: Agricultural Education in Ireland from Gerard Griffin, Curriculum Development Specialist at Teagasc. This is an essential qualification for those seeking recognition as trained farmers in Ireland, and a valuable credential for young and aspiring farmers.

As before, I want to recognise the continued commitment of our veterinary and farming communities in tackling endemic diseases. This collaboration is vital to ensuring the health, welfare and sustainability of our livestock sectors.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Boehringer Ingelheim for their continued support of RH&W communications in 2025, and again as we go into 2026.

Finally, many thanks to all RH&W steering and working groups for your dedication and commitment to supporting ongoing industry efforts.

Gwyn Jones
Chair
RH&W

Latest bluetongue BTV-3 updates

  1. Bluetongue confirmed in Northern Ireland

    DAERA has shared a recent update on Northern Ireland’s bluetongue outbreak, including that there are approximately 1,100 cattle herds and 980 sheep flocks within the temporary control zones.

    Read this page for updates.

  2. 2025 Bluetongue impact survey

    The RH&W BTV working group is again asking for farmer experiences to understand the impact of the Bluetongue virus on UK farms this year.

    Farmers are being asked to spare five minutes to take part in an anonymous survey to help inform industry to prepare for next year’s midge season.

    Click here to have your say: ‘2025 Bluetongue impact survey’ via: https://bit.ly/3LoJIRD 

  3. Battle Bluetongue webinars

Watch the recent BTV webinars including recordings from 3 and 10 December via: Bluetongue webinar library – Ruminant Health & Welfare

 

Call out for sheep scanner details

RH&W want to provide useful information to scanners to help farmers understand any disease impacts on scanning rates. Please share details of any sheep scanners you know via the below survey link: https://surveymonkey.com/r/RHWscanners

Once this directory has been built, relevant resources will be shared with scanners.


Goat Veterinary Society Update

In the recent steering group meeting, Dr David Harwood provided an overview of the UK goat sector including two ongoing initiatives: a goat kid disbudding survey and a Johne’s disease control programme in collaboration with the Milking Goats Association. The latter initiative aims to help milking goat herds understand and mitigate disease risks, especially as it is now a requirement for Red Tractor assurance. Read more here.

The GVS disbudding survey looks at the need for the procedure, how it is performed and the use of anaesthesia and analgesia, noting that disbudding is a vet-only procedure due to the risks involved. Click here for the survey.


NSA steps up fundraising for louping ill vaccine rollout

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has stepped up its support for fundraising to help bring a new vaccine against louping ill virus (LIV) to commercial production. LIV remains a serious tickborne threat to upland and hill sheep, causing high mortality rates and economic losses in affected flocks.

The vaccine, developed by the Moredun Research Institute and now progressing towards rollout, fills a crucial gap left since the previous vaccine was withdrawn in 2017. NSA regional committees across the UK have made charitable donations to the appeal, reinforcing industry backing for this important animal health initiative. NSA’s recent Tackling louping ill webinar highlighted the science and practical steps for protecting flocks.

Find out more  https://nationalsheep.org.uk/our-work/news/nsa-bolsters-important-fundraising-for-new-louping-ill-vaccine-on-a-national-and-regional-level/

Other news from industry

General:

Upcoming events in 2026:

We are an independent, industry-based body tasked with helping farmers and stock managers tackle sheep and cattle disease, and build the health and welfare status, resilience and production efficiency of our national flock and herd.

See more about our aims here.