News

Any regulatory changes introduced as a result of Defra’s consultation on the welfare of live animals in transport must be evidence-based and rooted in science.

Sheep farmers collect a lot of data about flock performance and could make far better use of it to improve health, welfare and productivity.

Reproductive failure and neonatal lamb disease / mortality have the biggest impact on sheep farmers’ productivity, according to a poll at this week’s SHAWG conference. But thin ewe syndrome and conditions in late pregnancy have the greatest impact on animal welfare, meaning farmers have to prioritise improving different aspects of their flock.

Farmers, vets and industry stakeholders will be joining forces at this year’s Sheep Health and Welfare Group Conference to focus on world-leading health and welfare standards.

The newly formed UK wide group Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) has launched a survey to identify disease priorities across the ruminant sectors and inform efforts to tackle health challenges eroding performance and welfare on farms.

Two further leadership appointments have been made to the newly formed UK-wide Ruminant Health and Welfare Group (RHWG): Caroline Slay in the role of secretary general, and Gwyn Jones as the new vice chair. They join Berwickshire farmer and qualified vet Nigel Miller, who was appointed chair on 1 June.