Sheep

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) said the risk of liver fluke infection in sheep and cattle will be moderate to high in the Central, South and East regions of Northern Ireland (NI) and a high prevalence of the disease is expected in the West this winter.

The four councils, Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork, have published sector plans as part of a commitment to outline how the levy will be invested over the next five years.

Following a major increase in worm egg counts, it is recommended that sheep farmers switch to a newer group 4-AD (orange) wormer for mid-to-late season drenching.

Research has shown that clinical ovine Johne’s disease can cause a 46% reduction in overall productivity. Livestock technical veterinary advisor for Virbac, Kate Ingram, offers advice on prevention.

Yorkshire-based farming couple Liam and Becky McPartland have won the first-ever VetPartners Sheep Sustainability Award in recognition of their success in reducing the use of anthelmintic wormers in sheep by switching to a rotational grazing system.

A recent survey by Herdwatch revealed more than 1,600 farmers said the app saves them an average of three hours a week, allows them to monitor and manage their herd performance more efficiently, and ultimately increases profitability. One dairy farmer from Cornwall even calls the app her “supernanny”.

Liz Truss’s resignation yesterday (20th October) after just 45 days as PM has caused further turmoil for industries across the country, said National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker.

British lamb was shipped to the United States for the first time in over two decades last week, opening up a market worth £37 million in the first five years of trade to the UK sheep industry.

Dan Simpson and Ruby Cappleman experienced the ‘worst day of their lives’, losing 58 ewe lambs in a flash flood near Keswick and appealed to the local authorities for help managing the River Derwent.

Farmers are encouraged to test incoming sheep for scab to determine whether treatment is required and avoid unnecessary costs.

Wormer resistance presents a growing threat to the sheep sector and has prompted Powys-based shepherd Ernie Richards to implement a more sustainable worming programme that supports flock performance while preserving wormer efficacy.

Researchers are looking to speak to a range of farmers and crofters to help improve retention rates and avoid penalties due to missing ear tags.