Intestinal integrity is a critical parameter in sustainable broiler production.

The paper, titled ‘Intestinal Integrity – a critical parameter in sustainable broiler production’, incorporates an extensive review of current scientific literature, led by SRUC’s Dr Marwa Hussein, and stresses the importance of closely monitoring and managing poultry intestinal health.

“The broiler industry is under pressure to meet sustainability challenges while increasing access to safe and affordable poultry meat,” said SRUC Professor Jos Houdijk, who co-authored the white paper.

He believes increased focus on intestinal health and integrity will contribute towards resolving these challenges in and advancing the poultry sector. “There have been big sustainability gains made thanks to genetic improvements, but maintaining this advantage is sensitive to gut health.

“A reduction in the Intestinal Integrity (I2) score for a current flock of broilers effectively cancels out years, if not decades of genetic selection,” he warned.

“The paper outlines the negative impact key intestinal diseases – such as coccidiosis, gizzard erosion, necrotic enteritis, and proventriculitis – can have on broiler performance through increased feed conversion ratio (FCR), morbidity and mortality,” the professor explained.

The objectives of the new white paper were to examine factors that affect broiler intestinal health, as well as to assess the value of Elanco’s Health Tracking System (HTSi) and I² index as a robust and practical means of achieving incremental improvements in this area. This will in turn positively impact bird performance and business profitability, Prof Houdijk pointed out.

Explaining how the index works, Elanco’s poultry technical consultant, Louise Ashworth, said: “The I² index is a unique, weighted index that gives flocks a score of between 0 and 100, based on 23 health conditions which are known to negatively impact intestinal health.

“For many farms, a score of 90 or below is an indication that poor intestinal health is having a significant impact on FCR and bird performance, and poorer I² scores are linked to a rise in antibiotic usage as well as an increase in the amount of feed, water and space required per kilo of poultry meat produced.”

Prof Houdijk added the paper provides clear evidence that the underlying conditions within the I² index lead to reduced feed efficiency and increased carbon footprint in poultry production.

“The consequences of this are an increased resource input for the expected output, more manure being produced, and birds taking longer to fatten – all of which contribute to the carbon footprint of poultry production.

“This white paper provides a valuable insight into why flock intestinal health matters and how the I² index can help producers improve the sustainability of poultry production,” he concluded.

The paper can be downloaded at: www.myelanco.co.uk/brand/htsi-intestinal-integrity-white-paper

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Matthew and Pippa Smith have been farming sheep at Trefranck for several years, and currently run a flock of 800 ewes.

Disease caused by gastrointestinal roundworms costs UK sheep farmers an estimated £42m every year in wormer treatments and productivity losses.

To tackle the growing problem of roundworm resistance, Matthew and Pippa Smith, who farm a flock of 800 sheep at Trefranck Farm in Cornwall, have been working alongside CIEL (Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock), Moredun Research Institute, and Castle Veterinary Group on a Defra-funded project looking at breeding worm-tolerant sheep.

Passionate about efficient and sustainable grass-based farming systems, Mr Smith said the prospect of worm-tolerant sheep presents an exciting opportunity for farmers in the fight against parasitic nematodes.

“We’re grateful for the support from our partners in this farmer-led study, which provides hope for sheep farmers challenged by worm resistance,” he said.

To provide a platform for farmers and industry professionals to discuss the results of the pilot study, Matthew and Pippa Smith are hosting two events – an Industry Awareness Day on Tuesday May 16 from 4pm to 7pm and a Farmer Awareness Day on Wednesday May 17 from 10am to 2pm – on their farm in Launceston, Cornwall.

“There will be discussion stations with vets, farmers, researchers and practical demonstrations throughout the day and we’re really excited to see what others make of this potential solution and provide us with feedback,” Mr Smith added.

Dr Mark Young, head of innovation at CIEL, commented: “The pilot has identified an efficient system for identifying genetically superior, worm-tolerant sheep. The next step is to define a breeding strategy and to roll this out industry-wide as quickly as possible.

“Selective breeding for worm-tolerant animals could help lead to improved growth rates while reducing anthelmintic use and associated labour needs, leading to increased financial returns.”

Farmers who wish to attend the events must register before Monday 1^st May. For more details and to book free tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/online/worm-tolerant-sheep/?page=1

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World Animal Vaccination Day recognises the significant impact that vaccines have on protecting livestock and pets from life-threatening disease, improving animal welfare and also playing a part in sustainable farming and production.

Whilst uptake of vaccines in the livestock sector has increased over the past 10 years, it could still be greatly improved, NOAH says.

NOAH highlighted its Livestock Vaccination Guideline for on-farm use, which offers best practice advice to dairy, beef and sheep producers, to help them get the most out of vaccination.

Dawn Howard, chief executive of NOAH said: “On this World Animal Vaccination Day it’s vital that we recognise that livestock vaccination is not just a recommended practice but a critical one, especially as the world faces new challenges such as emerging diseases, climate change, and changing demands.

“We must continue to promote the crucial role of livestock vaccination in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for animals, farmers, and consumers alike.”

The guidance divides vaccines into category one – high priority – and category two – best practice, based on farmer and vet discussion.

As well as improving animal health and welfare, preventing disease is the most effective way to support responsible antibiotic use, NOAH says. This is done through vaccination, breeding, hygiene, nutrition, optimised accommodation and all aspects of animal husbandry.

Several vaccines including leptospirosis and salmonellosis also protect human health by reducing the risk of zoonotic infection.

With livestock farming under considerable pressure to contribute to the response to climate change, reducing disease also has a role to play in achieving net zero.

The UK Climate Change Committee has proposed cost effective measures to reduce GHG emissions, with specific priorities for endemic cattle disease control. Five of the measures in the prioritised list are vaccinations, for IBR, BVD, salmonella, calf pneumonia and Johne’s disease.

Dawn Howard added: “Livestock vaccination can be complex, but provides huge benefits, not just for animal health and welfare, but also has a positive impact on food, economic and job security in the UK. Having the right tools, medicines and technology to provide adequate prevention, diagnostics, monitoring and treatment has never been more important.”

Read NOAH’s Livestock Vaccination Guideline here: https://www.noah.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NOAH-Livestock-Vaccination-Guideline-August-2022.pdf

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The Animal Health & Welfare Pathway offers eligible livestock farmers in England a one-off £436 grant for a vet-led health and welfare review and a Worming Treatment Check.

While the vet review is intended to discuss issues most relevant to an individual flock, the Worming Treatment Check is designed specifically to determine the effectiveness of an anthelmintic treatment on a farm.

Mr Stubbings said although the funding does not cover testing directly for anthelmintic resistance, it provides a starting point in understanding which wormer groups are working effectively on the farm.

“By putting a little thought and preparatory work into when you carry out this test, you can make it a really useful start to understanding how to make the most of any worming treatments,” he advised.

The Worming Treatment Check includes two faecal egg count tests (FECs), one taken at the time of treatment and another at a set interval after treatment (seven or 14 days) to determine how effective the product has been at reducing worm burden in the sheep.

“Eligible farmers have six months from the point of registration to complete the Worming Treatment Check,” Mr Stubbings continued, “but the important thing to remember is that you should only carry it out on lambs that you know need to be treated because their worm burden is high enough.”

Therefore, he recommends carrying out a FEC before starting the process to ensure the timing is optimal. “You cannot check the effectiveness of a treatment at killing adult worms if there are not enough worms present in the first place,” he remarked.

Mr Stubbings recommends timing the Worming Treatment Check for June/July when there are lambs on the field with a FEC high enough to require treatment. “A minimum FEC of 250 eggs per gram is needed for the test to be worthwhile, so discuss with your vet or adviser doing some monitoring ahead of using the check,” he added.

Participating farmers will receive a sampling kit with instructions on how to take good samples, as well as packaging with pre-paid postage back to an accredited laboratory that must be listed on the Defra website. A report detailing the results will then be sent out to farmers and their vet.

“On the basis of the results, you can discuss product choices with your vet and/or adviser, look at how you can use ongoing FEC monitoring to improve worm control in your flock, and test other groups of wormers over time,” Mr Stubbings said.

Kevin Harrison, sheep farmer and SCOPS Steering Group chair, added: “I know from experience that it’s not as simple as thinking one test will give you a definite answer on anthelmintic resistance.

“It takes a series of these tests over different years and seasons to build a complete picture of the efficacy of wormers on a farm – so use this opportunity as a starting point and build on it.

“It is never too late to start when it comes to slowing the development of resistance, and using a fully effective treatment when lambs do need worming will pay dividends in terms of lamb performance,” he concluded.

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The tool has been developed in collaboration with NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) to help farmers identify periods of high blowfly strike risk for their flocks, said Elanco Animal Health’s ruminant technical consultant, Matt Colston.

“Changing weather patterns mean the fly season is starting earlier and lasting longer,” he warned.

“This means farmers should be prepared to apply protection early on in the season, as preventative treatment is always the most cost-effective strategy against blowfly strike.”

According to Mr Colston, the active season for the main species causing blowfly strike in the UK – green bottle – is now longer, causing strikes to occur earlier in the spring and continue well into autumn. He recommends using the Blowfly Forecast to monitor fly activity, which tends to start as soon as temperatures rise above 9°C.

“Once the temperature gets above this, any pupae in the soil will start to develop and the first wave of flies will emerge,” he added.

As blowfly strike can happen very quickly, Mr Colston considers prevention of vital importance. “Prevention is essential because by the time symptoms are visible, it’s typically too late to protect sheep, and treatment can be costly.

“By taking early action to tackle the first wave of flies, farmers can reduce blowfly numbers early and dramatically reduce the risk of fly strike for the whole season,” he advised.

Figures from the National Farm Research Unit’s Blowfly Study in April 2018 show 94% of farmers have reported being caught out by strike, while 99% say it has caused them financial losses. Alongside other factors, Elanco’s Blowfly Forecast can be used to assess a farm’s risk level.

Other factors include:

• The location of the farm – with lowland flocks at greater risk
• Whether tails have been docked – with undocked sheep at greater risk
• Faecal soiling
• Whether a preventative treatment has been applied
• The farm’s history of strike
• The weather – with warm and wet conditions increasing the risk of fly strike

“Once blowfly strike has been identified as a risk, farmers can protect their sheep by applying an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) product, such as those in the CLiK range,” Mr Colston recommended.

The range includes: CLiK Extra, CLiK and CLiKZiN, which offer a scale of protection from eight to 19 weeks, with CLiKZin offering a meat withdrawal period of just seven days. For best results, IGR products must be administered correctly using the correct dosage, Mr Colston cautioned.

“I’d advise farmers to use the four-stroke application method to ensure there’s a four-inch bandwidth of product applied on the animal, taking care when lambs are small because a smaller target requires greater precision.”

“I’d also recommend applying the product in a pen, rather than a race, and clip out dags first to make sure animals are clean before application,” he added.

For more tips on how to protect your flock in the blowfly season ahead, read our guide here.

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Blowfly strike is a serious disease thought to affect over 80% of farms in the UK, resulting in major productivity losses. It is primarily caused by the green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata), which lays batches of around 200 eggs into decomposing matter. Carcasses, dirty backends, foot rot lesions and open wounds all have a high likelihood of attracting egg-laying flies.

The larvae emerging from the eggs will then feed on the sheep before migrating to the soil, causing serious welfare issues and even death. Therefore, preventative measures and prompt and effective treatment are vital to protecting the animals from harm and safeguarding farm productivity.

The majority of blowflies affecting sheep overwinter as maggots in the soil. When the weather warms up sufficiently, they pupate and eventually emerge as adult flies, which will soon feed and start to lay eggs.

Fly emergence typically begins in warmer southern areas and progressively moves to more northern and upland regions. At present, the relatively cold spring means that the majority of maggots are only just turning to pupae and the first emergence of adult flies is unlikely until the end of April or early May.

Unfortunately, a small proportion of the blowfly population often ends up overwintering in sheltered spots such as barns or sheds, in which cases early emergence is possible even before the forecasted date. Therefore, early vigilance for blowfly strike is advised from April onwards.

Reducing the risk of fly strike on your farm

There are several steps farmers can take to considerably reduce the risk of blowfly strike in their livestock. The actions recommended by NADIS are:

1. Carrying out a risk assessment

Farmers are advised to conduct a thorough risk assessment to determine the level of risk in their flock. NADIS has developed an interactive tool to help farmers and veterinary professionals quickly and easily carry out risk assessments for each major endemic livestock diseases.

Upon signing up with an email address, farmers will be required to answer a series of biosecurity questions and will subsequently receive a personalised list of risk factors for their farm. By doing so, they will be able to identify risk priorities in their herd or flock and deal with these effectively.

In partnership with Elanco, NADIS has also developed a live Blowfly Alert that predicts the emergence of blowflies based on Met Office Data. Farmers can also help monitor blowfly activity in the UK by reporting cases here.

2. Managing the fly population

Reducing the blowfly population early in the year has the greatest impact on the fly challenge during the grazing season. Female flies can lay up to 3000 eggs in a 3-month period, which can cause populations to grow exponentially.

Inexpensive fly traps have been shown to effectively reduce the incidence of strike by up to 80% in a season. The location of muck heaps and how they’re managed also impact on the spread of blowflies, and farmers are encouraged to consult their veterinarian for advice.

The prompt disposal of deadstock is another effective way of keeping blowfly populations at bay. Finally, farmers should also consider grazing sheep on more exposed pastures that are less favourable to the flies.

3. Reducing fleece contamination

Since flies are attracted to dirty backends, removing soiled fleece by dagging, crutching and timely shearing are all important measures. Moreover, tail docking lambs is a debated but accepted procedure to reduce strike in lowland flocks.

Keeping worm burdens under control can also help minimise scour caused by worms, with Nematodirus infection being particularly important early in the season. Farmers should work with their veterinarian to develop an appropriate faecal egg counting and parasite control plan.

Last but not least, recognising and treating lame sheep promptly can help reduce strike incidents caused by foot rot.

4. Applying preventative treatments ahead of the high-risk period

To dramatically reduce the risk of fly strike, farmers are encouraged to apply preventative treatments before risk levels rise to medium. Farm vets can advise on the most appropriate product to use based on labour resources, the age of lambs during the risk period, withdrawal times and anticipated slaughter dates.

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) are a targeted narrow-spectrum product for preventing blowfly strike and as such are the gold standard in disease prevention.

Since the correct application of a suitable product is essential to ensure maximum protection for the flock, farmers are advised to check the datasheet before treatment and seek clarification from their vet if needed.

Farmers should also keep in mind that applying a product on a rainy day, or dagging/crutching and shearing in the weeks after application may reduce the protection period.

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According to the latest scientific evidence and robust risk assessment by the relevant authorities, bird flu risk levels have eased off in recent weeks, which means poultry and other captive birds will no longer need to be kept indoors unless they are in a Protection Zone.

The decision also means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with access to outdoor areas can return to being marketed as ‘Free-Range’ eggs.

The UK and Europe have experienced unprecedented avian flu outbreaks over the past year and a half, with over 330 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021.

Although the risk of bird flu has been reduced to ‘medium’ for premises with poor biosecurity, the stringent biosecurity measures introduced as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will remain in force as infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks. The risk of bird flu on premises with good biosecurity remains assessed as low.

Guidance suggests those who intend to let their birds out should use the next few days to prepare their outside areas for the release of their birds. This will include cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.

Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, said: “Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers, scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence to help keep your birds safe.

“It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter that we are in a position to take this action. However, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.”

To prevent the risk of future outbreaks, all bird keepers should apply enhanced measures at all times, such as:

• cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
• reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, minimising contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and using effective vermin control
• thoroughly cleansing and disinfecting housing on a continuous basis
• keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and bird housing entry and exit points
• minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds
• being vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seeking prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns.

As an additional precaution, Defra is also encouraging all keepers to register their flocks. This is a legal requirement for poultry keepers with 50 birds or more (poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeons (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants).

Registering flocks means the government will be able to contact bird keepers with information or action required should an outbreak happen near the premises. The government has recently announced a consultation on proposals to require all poultry keepers to officially register their birds (consultation closes at 23:45 on 31 May 2023).

According to the UKHSA, available evidence suggests the virus strain currently circulating in birds in the UK is unlikely to spread to people, with food standards bodies advising that avian flu poses a very low food safety risk to UK consumers. Moreover, there is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

Bird keepers should report suspected cases in England to the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301, in Wales contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. In Northern Ireland contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Regional Office.

Members of the public are reminded not to touch dead wild birds and are encouraged to report such findings using the new online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).

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Highland cattle grazing on Islay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland.

Treating sheep and cattle for liver fluke at set intervals has led to overuse of treatments, increased resistance to the products left in a veterinary toolkit, and greater costs to farmers and the environment which could be mitigated through testing.

The fourth in a series of ten cases studies, featuring as part of this year’s RHASS PI, will look at how a project involving Moredun Research Institute, Elanco Animal Health, RSPB and Islay farmers has come up with a plan to boost animal welfare, reduce flukicide resistance, improve soil health and help enhance local wildlife populations.

Monthly monitoring of blood and faecal samples from a select group of animals revealed that the timing of liver fluke infection has changed, in part due to changing weather patterns. Nonetheless, many farmers are still prophylactically treating their livestock with flukicides, often unnecessarily.

This practice is not only leading to increased resistance to the remaining products effective against liver fluke, but is also causing chemicals to leach into surrounding soil and dung, potentially impacting wildlife.

One farmer involved in the study, Stuart Lamont, had been routinely treating sheep on his farm, but since testing showed very low levels of fluke in the summer and autumn, he was advised not to treat until January. Seeing the benefits, he has since switched to a testing over treating programme.

“By listening to the science, we have been able to make informed decisions about when to treat our livestock, which has led to benefits for animal welfare, as well as significant chemical savings,” he said.

“I’m now not having to unnecessarily handle my sheep to run them through a race every six weeks and by treating more sparingly, it means the products are more likely to work when we need to use them.”

Moredun Parasitologist, Philip Skuce, added that there is a careful balance to be struck between responsible treatment and conserving biodiversity on farm.

“On Islay, we were looking at how we could ensure optimal treatment for livestock whilst also addressing issues around product resistance, improving soil health, and supporting local wildlife,” he said, highlighting the important role science plays in providing evidence that a practice is safe for farmers to do.

“There is increasing pressure on the agricultural industry to reduce chemical usage and the most simple and effective way to do this is to ‘test, don’t guess’ and with patterns of parasite epidemiology shifting, more than ever scientists need to be monitoring these changes and bringing farmers along with us,” he stressed.

Commenting on the work, RHASS President Ian Duncan-Miller said: “The application of science to an everyday problem on Islay has shown a quite remarkable breadth and diversity of gains, and shows how really understanding the long-standing challenges will lead to benefits across the board.

“On a wildlife reserve, the priority is obviously the naturally occurring creatures, and this research has demonstrated the importance of science around the grazing livestock to the plants and other animals.”

For more information on this year’s initiative and to access past and future case studies, visit: https://rhass.org.uk/presidential-initiative/https://rhass.org.uk/presidential-initiative/

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Botulism was confirmed to be the most likely cause of mass cattle death at Woodlands Farm in Jersey after notifiable diseases were ruled out. The cattle died in a span of just four days on 19^th December 2022, with livestock in a separate part of the herd being unaffected.

Although government-commissioned tests have found no toxins present in the cattle feed, toxin-producing bacteria were cultured from samples.

Jersey chief veterinary officer Susana Ramos said: “Botulism has been our main working theory throughout. It’s characterised by progressive muscle weakness. Cattle are extremely sensitive to the toxin, and in most cases it is fatal.

“Despite no toxin being found, there was the presence of bacterial spores, and we believe that these results, coupled with the exclusion of notifiable diseases, and the signs reported at the time at the farm, all combine to suggest botulism as the most likely cause of death.”

As the disease is notoriously hard to test for, diagnosis is often based on clinical signs and ruling out other possible causes, and a conclusive laboratory result is often not achievable, Ms Ramos added.

Shortly after the tragic event, 33,000 litres of milk collected from across the Island and stored at Jersey Dairy – including milk from the affected farm – were disposed of as a precaution. However, in light of the recent laboratory results, Natural Environment director Willie Peggie said there is no further risk to animals or public health.

RH&W has previously warned against the dangers of botulism, especially if poultry litter has been used as fertiliser on grass crops.

Explaining the risk, RH&W chairman Nigel Miller said: “Deep litter in poultry sheds may be contaminated by bird carcases or fragments of dead birds.

“This material has the potential to carry botulinum toxin – a toxin which impacts on muscle function and can cause mortality in animals that graze contaminated grass or silage.”

Mr Miller urged farmers who suspect botulism has entered their herd or flock to speak to their vet without delay. Suspected contaminated livestock should also be isolated from the main group and contained in alternative housing or grazing as soon as possible, he stressed.

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Did you know?

• Ewe lambs can be vaccinated with Cevac Chlamydia from five months of age.
• Shearlings (one year plus) and older can be vaccinated within four months before tupping and no later than four weeks before the rams go in.

EAE is caused by the bacterium, Chlamydophila abortus, which is spread from sheep to sheep, predominantly at lambing, when affected ewes shed large numbers of the bacterium in their foetal fluids and placenta. Infection in a flock can result in the birth of dead and/or weak lambs from about three weeks before lambing is due to start.

If sheep are infected after about 100 days of pregnancy they will not abort at this lambing, the bacterium become latent but then reactivates causing abortion at the subsequent lambing.

The highly infectious nature of chlamydia, as well as this latent infection means that levels of abortion can be relatively low one year, before resulting in a storm and significant losses in the next year. Some ewes may not abort but can still shed the bacterium, meaning neonatal ewe lambs could be infected. In a previously uninfected flock the infection is generally bought in.

Harry Walby, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, comments: “EAE remains one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of abortion in UK sheep¹, costing the UK sheep industry up to £20 million annually. We have been advised that there will be stock availability issues later in the year and so we are encouraging farmers to vaccinate their flocks as early as possible to utilise current provisions of Cevac Chlamydia and help ensure the continuous supply of the vaccine.”

Fiona Lovatt, RCVS recognised specialist in sheep health and production, adds: “An outbreak of enzootic abortion is devastating – this is a disease for which it is essential to ‘plan ahead, prevent disease and protect the flock’. Once we get close to tupping, there is very little we can do if there is a shortfall in vaccine supply at the crucial time. It would be sensible to be ahead of the game and ensure that first time lambers – whether ewe lambs or shearlings – are vaccinated earlier in the season and while there are stocks available.”

For further information on vaccination with Cevac Chlamydia please contact your vet or visit www.enzooticabortion.co.uk.

1. Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) report, APHA and Scotland’s Rural College, 2018
2. Milne C.E., et al. Epidemiological modelling of chlamydial abortion in sheep flocks, Veterinary Microbiology (2008), doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.09.032

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