Welcome to Ruminant Health & Welfare

 
Since the last newsletter, the bluetongue situation has developed at pace. Winter isn’t a time that many look forward to, but prolonged cold weather does bring the benefit of reduced midge activity, so there is at least some hope on the horizon that infection spread may slow down soon.

At Ruminant Health & Welfare, our BTV-3 working group of experts from across the industry continue to work together to minimise the spread of this disease and provide the latest information for farmers and the industry.

Currently we are starting to see the real impact of bluetongue on-farm from regular reports from the ongoing BTV-3 farmer impact survey which was launched last month to understand the situation and effects on livestock. These anonymous insights will also shape understanding and attitudes towards vaccines from farmers around the country.

If you are struggling with navigating BTV-3 or you know of farmers affected by it, please visit our resources page or call the bluetongue hotline for advice – see below.

In more positive news, we are progressing with welfare strategies as well as organising meetings to share relevant challenges, progress and innovations across the four nations.

At our recent RH&W steering group meeting for example, government representatives from Scotland, Wales and England shared updates on their respective nations’ health and welfare strategies. It was very interesting to see where comparisons could be drawn and where there were disparities between the different devolved nations. There is a lot of learning to be had from taking a four nations view. We will be producing a report on the English, Welsh and Scottish strategies in due course, with Northern Ireland sharing theirs further along the line.

New members to RH&W are very welcome – and thank you to those new organisations who have joined the BTV-3 working group in recent weeks to make sure we have as many bases covered across geography and industry as possible.

Please share this email with anyone you feel would be interested in joining getting involved with our work – just email RuminantHW@ahdb.org.uk to request to join.

Gwyn Jones
Chair
RH&W