Menu

Know How / Health and welfare

Animal health is critical to all producers of dairy and beef cattle, sheep and pigs. Get advice on dealing with livestock diseases such as, bovine TB and mastitis, and conditions such as heat stress, lameness and ewe prolapse. See best practice on vaccination, medicines and reducing antibiotics.

Case studies

POULTRY

How a free-range egg producer is achieving an 86-week lay

Extending lay to 90 weeks is remarkable in any system, and all the more so when it is achieved in just the fifth flock cycle. Arable farmer Michael Wilson diversified…

DAIRY

How video monitoring helped halve a dairy’s antibiotics use

A Pembrokeshire dairy farming family have made significant strides in reducing their antibiotics use on-farm by using technology and working closely with their vet. Stephen and Daniel James, who farm…

SHEEP

Lack of colostrum increases lamb losses tenfold, study shows

Lamb mortalities on a Welsh sheep farm were 10 times more likely when the animals had not received adequate colostrum in the crucial first 24 hours of life, a study…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Four ways tenant dairy unit manages consistent feeding 

Adding maize and an alkaline fibre nut to the feed ration has helped a Cumbrian farm maintain rumen health through a period of challenging production years. Andrew Barraclough took on…

BEEF

Post-weaning cattle growth rates double with natural spot-on

A family butcher is expecting to see days to slaughter fall in cattle treated with a topical pheromone that has improved growth rates after weaning and castration. When Steve Conisbee’s…

SHEEP

Flock health and farm cost benefits from mineral auditing

Applying fertiliser enriched with sulphur can improve grass yields, but a project in Wales has demonstrated why farmers should monitor impacts on their livestock or risk poor performance. Roger and…

Practical advice

See all

DAIRY

6 tips on delivering water for dairy cows

Many dairy farms have outgrown their water supply as they have increased cow numbers. Yet investment in water infrastructure often is not considered until a problem arises. Phil Evans is…

LIVESTOCK DISEASES

Farmers urged to be on alert for bluetongue re-emergence

Farmers are being urged to remain vigilant as temperatures rise and the threat of bluetongue virus re-emerges.   The Animal Health and Plant Agency (Apha) has raised concerns that mildly…

PIGS

6 ways to manage antibiotics usage in pigs

Significant efforts to reduce antibiotics use in the UK pig herd resulted in a 75% fall between 2015 and 2022. Since then, however, rates have been increasing again – if…

PIGS

Why adequate water quality and quantity is vital for pigs

A water system that is fit for purpose and can provide the correct quality and quantity of water is vital to maintain pig health, welfare and performance. Mark Jagger, assistant…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Advice on disinfection of livestock trailers

Washing hands and wearing gloves while cleaning and disinfecting livestock trailers can help to reduce the spread of zoonotic pathogens as well as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Following government guidelines for cleaning…

POULTRY

Tips on ensuring poultry biosecurity measures are effective

The avian influenza virus always makes its way into a poultry house from the outside environment, so preventing that transmission will keep disease at bay. While farms already have good…

Insights

LAYERS

What new RSPCA Assured layer standards mean for farmers

Providing a minimum of 3% natural daylight in housing could cost free-range and barn-egg producers at least £1 a bird. Other requirements within the new RSPCA Assured welfare standards require…

DAIRY

Lungworm vaccine cuts wormer use by nearly 90%, study shows

Vaccinating youngstock for lungworm has resulted in an 87% reduction in the use of macrocyclic lactone wormers among dairy farmers who took part in a Welsh study. The trial was…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How data analysis helped dairy herds cut mastitis cases

A project involving multiple dairy farms across Wales has demonstrated why collecting data to establish the mastitis “red flags” specific to an individual herd can be key to reducing disease…

LIVESTOCK

Feed efficiency research reveals importance of cow grouping

Breeding dairy herds for feed efficiency can be negatively impacted on-farm by managing lactating cows in mixed parity groups. This is because of competition at the feed bunk and a…

DAIRY

Cow health strategy rethink needed after bolus loss

Dairy farms need to review their strategies for preventing metabolic disease in transition cows as monensin boluses are no longer on the market, said independent veterinary consultant Dr David Charles.…

LIVESTOCK

How a farm vet team cut antibiotics use in calf castrations

Antibiotics use in surgical calf castration by a south of England vet practice fell by nearly 60% in one year following a clinical audit. Tonia Simms, clinical director at Hampden…

OFC

OFC 2025: How gene editing in pigs can help eliminate disease

The Oxford Farming Conference returns next January with Farmers Weekly as the media partner. Farmers Weekly talks to one of the speakers, Dr Craig Lewis. The son of a pig…

LIVESTOCK

Why a congenital defect could cause calf losses

Ask a dairy or beef farmer if they have ever had a calf born with atresia, a condition commonly known as “waterbelly”, and the chances are they will say no.…

LIVESTOCK

Benefits of giving dairy calves toys on farm

Giving dairy calves plastic “toys” to play with helps them express their natural behaviour which, in turn, benefits their mental wellbeing. As a result, they are less likely to display…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Analysis: What farmers need to know about bluetongue

The current outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) is likely to get worse in the coming weeks before it improves, warn industry leaders. Since the first case in this…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How a ‘big squeeze’ could help dummy calves to suck

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome in calves – also known as “dummy calf” syndrome – can be a challenge for dairy farmers to manage, often requiring extra labour to tube-feed youngstock. Typically,…

BOVINE TB

Brian May - ‘Badgers are irrelevant in cattle TB spread’

Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner Sir Brian May has staked his life on badgers playing no role in the bovine TB nightmare for farmers. He believes badgers do not…

Online resources

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Cattle

Learn more

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Sheep

Learn more

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Pigs

Learn more

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Poultry

Learn more

Advertiser content

See all