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Latest RH&W newsletter – November

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Latest updates from Ruminant Health & Welfare

Welcome to the latest RH&W newsletter 

As the weather continues to turn, many livestock will now be coming indoors, which brings with it fresh challenges for health and welfare but also opportunities to assess and improve herd health planning.

At RH&W, we continue to see encouraging collaboration and research across the industry in tackling some of the most pressing livestock health challenges. The announcement of the next phase of bTB cattle vaccine trials, and the introduction of licensed routes for resolved inconclusive reactors in Wales, mark two significant milestones in the journey towards bTB disease control.

At the same time, growing evidence of wormer resistance remains a concern. As farmers consider autumn treatments, I would urge everyone to make full use of testing and diagnostics before dosing. The latest guidance from the SCOPS and COWS groups highlights how timing and testing can make all the difference.

We’re also entering a critical point in the ongoing battle against bluetongue following the announcement of an all-Wales restricted zone from 10 November. If you’re unsure of livestock movement regulations, please use the Bluetongue Movements Checker tool and resources available via the Bluetongue virus resource hub.

These developments follow an ongoing rise in cases (a total of 160 BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season, with a sudden rise in Wales). I encourage all livestock keepers to speak to their vets about vaccinating now, to build immunity well ahead of next year’s higher-risk period – it is the best line of defence.

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.

Thank you again to the RH&W steering and working groups for your dedication and commitment to supporting these ongoing industry efforts.

Gwyn Jones
Chair
RH&W

Latest bluetongue BTV-3 updates

  1. Changes to Wales movement controls 30 October 2025
    The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, announced an all-Wales Restricted Zone (RZ) for Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) from 10 November 2025. 

    Click here to read more: Welsh Government to Declare All-Wales Bluetongue (BTV-3) Restricted Zone from 10 November | GOV.WALES
     
  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
     
Battle Bluetongue webinars

Book your place: 12 November 5-6pm  
Speakers on the next webinar include Natalie Sampson, from Welsh Government, who will be providing an update on Welsh policy, plus Chris Sanders from the Pirbright Institute who will be providing an overview of the Culicoides midges and how they transmit BTV-3.
 
There will be the opportunity to ask questions live plus send questions in advance. Please complete this form to submit questions: https://forms.office.com/e/dEpjrQE5bS.
 
Watch all previous webinars again – click here: Bluetongue webinar library – Ruminant Health & Welfare

 

APHA announce next phase of bTB vaccine trials

The trials will involve at least 750 animals across 10 commercial farms across the low-risk area in England and the low TB area in Wales.

Due to be completed in 2026, the trials aim to develop critical data that will support the deployment of the cattle BCG vaccine and the Diva (detect infected among vaccinated animals) diagnostic skin test which, together, it is hoped will offer a breakthrough in bTB control.


Liver fluke challenge continues to show variability

The 2025-26 season is following the trend of lower and later fluke challenge. However, experts say that a large proportion of treatments are being given too early as many farmers continue to treat within the traditional windows.

As such, experts from the SCOPS and COWS groups are urging farmers considering whether to treat livestock for liver fluke this autumn to use the testing available to decide if they need to treat, and when.

Read more here or listen to the SCOPS podcast: Suspecting Wormer Failure: What Next? It might not be resistance


Welsh Government announce changes to bTB resolved inconclusive reactors

All cattle in Wales identified as resolved inconclusive reactors (standard interpretation) from 1 January 2026 will be subject to lifelong movement restrictions, meaning they will only move directly to slaughterhouses or Approved Finishing Units via licensed routes, including approved slaughter gatherings or TB-dedicated sales.

Read the full announcement and industry responses.

Read the full announcement and industry responses.

 

APHA will continue to offer free Schmallenberg testing this season

Following a number of cases of deformed stillborn lambs and calves associated with SBV recorded in the 2024/25 season, APHA will continue to offer free of charge testing on samples from lambs, kids and calves born with arthrogryposis, or other musculoskeletal deformities. A fresh brain sample will be tested free of charge if submitted to APHA.

The initiative aims to investigate the role of SBV in such cases, to provide further information about the geographic distribution and epidemiology of the disease, and to detect new and re-emerging threats with a similar presentation.

Farmers are encouraged to contact their local Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC) for more information and to discuss appropriate sampling, or the submission of a foetus with placenta.

For more information about SBV visit: Schmallenberg virus – GOV.​UK

 

BCVA welcomes findings of a fresh review into bTB policy in England

Bovine TB continues to divide opinion across the industry, with the latest review by Professor Sir Charles Godfray prompting a mixed response. While the BCVA broadly welcomed its findings, farming groups such as the NFU claimed the policy was ‘floundering’.

Defra has said it plans to publish its new strategy towards this target early next year.

Other news from industry

General

Upcoming events

Scotland – Dairy Roadmap Sustainable Pathways Stakeholder Workshop by DairyUK, SRUC Barony Campus
13th November 2025
Scotland – Dairy Roadmap Sustainable Pathways Stakeholder Workshop Tickets, Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

AgriScot, Royal Highland Centre
19th November 2025
Home – AgriScot – Your Farm Business Event

Calf Conference 2025, Reaseheath College
19th November 2025
Calf Conference 2025 | LLM Farm Vets
 
London Vet Show, ExCeL London, London
20-21st November 2025
https://sheepvetsoc.org.uk/events/11th-international-sheep-veterinary-congress/

The Royal Ulster Winter Fair, Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn
11th December 2025
Agricultural Exhibition at Eikon Centre, Lisburn | Royal Ulster Agricultural Society

AHDB events 2025
See all AHDB events: Farm events and agricultural shows | AHDB

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.