Update on AHWP

Now you can apply for funding for the Animal Health and Welfare Review and the endemic disease follow-up for more than one species. This scheme funds an annual advisory visit from a vet of your choice.

During your visit we will investigate BVD for cattle and worming resistance checks for sheep. We will also provide a full health and welfare assessment of your farm and provide a report based on this. You will then be eligible to apply for further funding based on any problems identified on this visit.

The scheme is available for farmers who have:

11 or more beef cattle
11 or more dairy cattle
21 or more sheep

Apply for funding now: https://apply-for-an-annual-health-and-welfare-review.defra.gov.uk/ apply/endemics/start

Foot and mouth disease

There have been 3 confirmed cases of FMD in Europe: -Germany (January 2025) - Hungary (March 2025) - Slovakia (March 2025) The risk level of FMD in the UK has been increased to a medium. To protect our livestock the government has banned imports of cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products for personal use from EU countries, EFTA States, the Faroe Islands and Greenland into Great Britain.

There are also bans on importing hay and straw, any live animal belonging to an FMD-susceptible species and any products from these animals for commercial reasons. For more information on how to spot and report FMD please see the government website: https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/foot-and-mouth-disease

BSE case

There has been a confirmed case of BSE (mad cow disease) in a cow in Essex (20th May 2025). The animal showed some clinical signs of BSE and was humanely culled on farm and tested.

The case was confirmed to be atypical BSE, which naturally occurs at a very low level in the cattle population and is non-contagious.

For more information on BSE please visit the government website: https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/bse

We are moving offices in Leominster!

Our new address is Unit 4 Burnside Court, Brunel Road, Leominster, HR6 0LX.

We are just up the road from the old office, please see the map below.

Any trouble finding us please feel free to contact reception for help.

Bluetongue Update

On the 1st of July 2025 the bluetongue restriction zone will be extended to cover all of England. This means that from this date you will be able to move within England without a bluetongue licence or test.

Vaccination remains the most effective long- term option for disease control.

The government is encouraging farmers to discuss BTV3 vaccination with their vet to determine if it is right for your animals.

If you have any questions about vaccination, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our vets.

Resources Bluetongue:

https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/battle bluetongue-campaign-2025/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue virus-latest-situation-chief-vet-urges-vigilance

https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/bluetongue

Resources for mental health:

https://ahdb.org.uk/support-for-farmers

Farming Community Network helpline – 03000 111 999

RABI – 0800 188 4444

We Are Farming Minds – 0808 802 0070 / Text – 07786 203 130

Forage Aid – 01926 620135

Mind Charity – 0300 123 3393

Samaritans – 116 123

Barbers pole worm in sheep

As you may have seen from our Facebook page, we are already starting to see cases of barbers pole worm in sheep.

What is it?

Haemonchus contortus is a blood sucking worm that lives in the abomasum (the fourth stomach compartment) of sheep. It follows a similar lifecycle to other parasitic worms with a couple key differences:

Females lay lots more eggs, they can produce around 5,000 15,000 per day
It has a shorter lifecycle of around 20 days leading to rapid build up on pasture
It mainly overwinters inside the sheep, instead of on pasture
Adult sheep are also at risk of infection

Clinical signs:

The main clinical signs to look out for are pale/white eyelids plus condition loss, bottle jaw, collapse when gathering and sudden death. Adult worms can remove 0.05ml blood per worm per day from the host, meaning sheep carrying 5,000 worms can loose up to 250ml per day. Sheep with as few as 500 worms can show clinical signs.

The key difference with this worm is it will not cause scour as other worms do.

What to do:

If you are worried about Haemonchus in your flock please get in touch and ask to speak to one of the vets.

June 2025