Latest updates from Ruminant Health & Welfare

Welcome to the latest RH&W newsletter

As we move towards the summer months, some recent timely rainfall has come as a welcome relief to many, encouraging some much-needed grass growth.

While stock is at grass, it is important that we all remain vigilant of seasonal livestock health challenges, and to make full use of the guidance and industry resources available. We continue to closely monitor associated risks such as Nematodirus, liver fluke and the ongoing threat of bluetongue, BTV-3.

This month we are sharing a multitude of opportunities for farmers and vets to engage with the industry and provide feedback or access valuable support. Notably, the launch of the RUMA agriculture vaccine survey, which aims to collate insights on vaccine availability from vets and farmers, and Nottingham University and SRUC’s joint project survey, which aims gain information from cattle keepers, to support the ongoing fight against BVD.

Additionally, the end of May marked the opening of the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants, which offer financial support to applicable farmers looking to improve animal welfare standards on-farm, and subsequent productivity through investment in new equipment and technology.

I strongly encourage farmers and vets to take up these opportunities while available to be able to focus on key investments that will positively contribute to livestock health and welfare while strengthening farm businesses.

Thank you as ever to everyone across our working and steering groups for your continued dedication and valuable input.

Gwyn Jones – RH&W chair

Latest bluetongue BTV-3 updates

For the latest updates and information on bluetongue BTV-3, visit our resource hub here.

Grants are now open for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund

The latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) will contribute £47m to equipment, technology and small infrastructure across selected farm businesses in England to enhance productivity of pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry, and improvements towards animal handling, monitoring, and comfort to support health and welfare.

Grants of £1,000-£25,000 will cover between 40% and 50% of the total cost of items on the list of kit, which advisors recommend checking as some specifications and scoring on items have changed.

RUMA launches vaccine availability survey

RUMA Agriculture is calling on UK livestock sectors to take part in their survey on vaccine availability. The online survey is designed to collate insights from farmers, vets and SQPs about the vaccine shortages which have been and continue to be a growing cause for concern across the UK.

The survey which can be accessed via this link: https://forms.office.com/e/D6EYM81Mip, is now live and will close on Friday 27^th June at 5pm.

Dairy producers urged to focus on hygiene during the summer months to reduce mastitis risk

Dairy producers are being encouraged to maintain rigorous hygiene protocols as data suggests the risk of mastitis is heightened during the summer months.

Data from the 2023-24 Kingshay antimicrobial report suggests a long-term trend of higher somatic cell counts during the summer, compared to flatline results in winter.

Dairy farmers are subsequently urged to apply mastitis prevention methods all year round by identifying and tackling the risk of infection from other cows, udders, the environment, and during milking, and to conduct regular monitoring for early detection. It is encouraged that farmers work alongside vets to follow AHDB’s Mastitis Control Plan.

Warning issued after surge in resistance to common calf diarrhoea antibiotic

The Dutch animal health group, Royal GD’s latest Monitoring Animal Health report for cattle revealed 72% of Escherichia coli K99 isolates were found to be resistant to paromomycin last year, up from 48% in 2021. The report also found more frequent detection of cryptosporidiosis in calves – particularly in calves up to 14 days of age.

These findings have led to a call on vets to reconsider their approach to treating neonatal calf diarrhoea and to further consider responsible antibiotic use.

Cattle keepers in the UK encouraged to have their say in BVD survey

The University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have launched a survey to support their collaborative research into reducing the prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in UK cattle.

The three-year funded project aims to improve the way BVD modelling works to enhance existing disease control and prevention programmes – and help control of other diseases in the future.

As part of the project, the research team have conducted a series of focus groups across the UK to explore the views of cattle keepers on cattle diseases, BVD and what they believe influences control. Using knowledge from these focus groups, and insights from the modelling the team, a survey has been launched.

The survey aims to collect data which demonstrates the different decisions people make around cattle disease, that will be incorporated into the new model.

All cattle keepers in the UK are encouraged to participate in the survey, to help with the project towards controlling cattle disease.

The survey takes 15 minutes to complete, take part via:

http://bit.ly/cattlediseasedecisions

NSA encourages vet engagement after bluetongue virus (BTV) vaccine approval in Scotland

Scottish approval of the bluetongue vaccine is reassuring for the sheep industry, says the Scottish Region of the NSA, however, they state that there are several important caveats that must be understood around vaccine supply, vaccine claims, and reporting vaccinated animals.

NSA Scottish Region Chair Peter Myles says it is inevitable that Scotland would approve the BTV vaccines, adding that it was ‘reassuring’ the option to vaccinate was now in the toolbox.

Mr Myles says: “Understanding the challenges around bluetongue vaccine supply and the vaccine claims is important. Vaccinating will not protect livestock totally, but it should suppress symptoms and prevent death and major financial impacts.”

NSA Scottish Region outlines several points for sheep farmers to be aware of, which can be found here.

Funded internal parasite control support available to sheep farmers

Through Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway’s ‘get funding to improve animal health and welfare’ service, eligible keepers of sheep, pigs and cattle can apply for funded vet visits, consisting of an animal health and welfare review and a related endemic disease follow-up visit.

The initial Review visit includes the opportunity to test the efficacy of wormer treatments in lambs, to discuss how to test and the results of testing with your vet/advisor.

The Worming Treatment Check, designed with input from SCOPS, provides insights on best practice. An assessment of effectiveness will follow, with guidance on sampling, laboratory testing of samples and a report on results – including visual aids to support farmers and vets/advisor on next steps.

Farmers are encouraged to plan and execute regular worm egg counts to align the Worming Treatment Check with high egg counts.

Follow the link for guidance on how to apply for a funded vet: Funding to improve animal health and welfare: guidance for farmers and vets – GOV.UK

Somerset sheep farmer appointed SCOPS Deputy Chair

The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has announced the appointment of Somerset sheep farmer, Olly Matthews as its new Deputy Chair.

Mr Matthews, formerly NSA South West Region Chairman, farms 1,700 Romeny cross sheep and 450 Exlana stud ewes on a share farming agreement, on the edge of the Exmoor National Park.

He says: “I hope I can bring my enthusiasm for sheep farming into the position, as well as a practical opinion on how things can be implemented on the farm. I believe the profile of SCOPS has really grown over recent years, and I am proud to now be part of that.”