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The chief veterinary officer has announced the UK has met international requirements to declare itself from Avian Influenza (AI) H5N3 but urged poultry keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease.

A Parliamentary group has called on the Government to develop a ‘UK Strategy for Abattoirs’ in order to stem the tide of small slaughterhouse closures.

At this time of year flies can often be a nuisance on livestock farms resulting in compromised welfare and performance. Hannah Noble looks at chemical-free solution to helping control fly populations.

With summer temperatures rising, farmers are being warned not to dismiss heat stress in pigs as a foreign problem. Hannah Noble reports.

As dairy farmers face mounting pressure to reduce antibiotic usage and selective dry cow therapy becomes the norm, the implementation of a drying off protocol is more important than ever. Hannah Noble finds out more.

There can be few practices on the farm which can be changed with so little investment, and to such great effect, than age at first calving. Still, the UK’s age at first calving remains stubbornly fixed at an average 28 months, despite the well-promoted benefits of calving at two years.

A new mastitis test to reduce antibiotic use on dairy farms is being trialled through an on-farm ‘field lab’ with Innovative Farmers.

Industry leaders are outraged at the High Court’s decision to rule in favour of an 11th hour decision by the Government not to grant Derbyshire a badger cull licence, despite providing satisfactory evidence.

Livestock transport has become big business as supply chains have become increasingly diverse and, with animal welfare rightly at the fore during developments, the practice itself has experienced some change over the years. H

Some guidance on safety at shearing has been produced by industry in response to the unique situation this year.