Summer has officially begun, and cattle everywhere are feeling the heat. June 20th marks the official start of summer, and…
Bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease that affects ruminants, including sheep, cattle, deer and goats. The virus is spread by…
Don’t get caught out by blowfly strike Fly strike is one of the most serious welfare problems affecting the sheep…
When to worm cattle Worm control in cattle is essential for protecting livestock health, optimising weight gain, and ensuring long-term…
Schmallenberg Virus (SBV), part of the Simbu serogroup of orthobunyaviruses, is an emerging threat to ruminant species across the UK—especially…
Pneumonia and other forms of respiratory disease pose a major threat to livestock health and farm profitability, especially in calves…
Dehorning and disbudding are essential parts of calf management on UK farms. Dehorning calves early prevents injury to both horned…
Farmer Guide Heat stress in livestock: protecting dairy cows during hot weather Heat stress is a major challenge for livestock…
After one of the hottest and driest summers on record, UK livestock farmers are facing a perfect storm of late-season…
Cryptosporidiosis (often called “crypto”) is one of the most common causes of scour (diarrhea) in young calves across the UK.…
Blowfly strike is a common and serious issue for sheep, caused by the invasion of live tissue by fly larvae.…
Farmer Guide Protecting lambs from clostridial diseases: what every sheep farmer should know Clostridial diseases can strike quickly and cause…
Farmer Guide Liver fluke in cattle and sheep: understanding the risk and how to manage it Liver fluke is a…
Farmer Guide Nematodirus in lambs: how to assess risk and protect your flock Nematodirus is a serious parasitic disease that…
Calf pens and sheds will be filling up on farms across the UK increasing the risk of Bovine Respiratory Disease…
A crucial element of calf management is dehorning/disbudding, the practice of removing horn buds to prevent injury to both animals…
Farmer Guide The importance of testing colostrum quality Giving calves the best possible start begins with high-quality colostrum. Testing colostrum…
Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) is an insect borne viral disease, particularly affecting ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats. The virus spreads rapidly…
Farmer Guide Maedi-Visna (MV) in sheep: understanding the risk and protecting your flock Maedi-Visna (MV) is a chronic viral disease…
Farmer Guide Pneumonia in livestock: reducing risk in sheep and cattle Cold, wet weather can increase the risk of pneumonia…
Farmer Guide Rumen drinking in calves: causes, signs, and prevention Rumen drinking, or reticuloruminal milk accumulation, is a serious condition…
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal disease in calves which results in calves scouring (watery diarrhoea), dehydration…
Farmer Guide Heifer mastitis: how to reduce risk and protect future performance Heifer mastitis can have a lasting impact on…
Farmer Guide Haemonchus in sheep: what farmers need to know about Barber’s Pole worm Haemonchus contortus, commonly known as Barber’s…
As the housing period for cows draws near and lactation comes to a close, maintaining high milk quality is crucial.…
Farmer Guide Babesiosis in cattle: what farmers need to know Babesiosis remains an important health risk for cattle in the…
Current situation Bluetongue is a notifiable disease affecting sheep, cattle, and other ruminants, spread by biting midges. In England there…
Farmer Guide Managing lameness in cattle: practical steps for prevention and control Lameness is one of the most common and…
Farmer Guide Trace elements in suckler cows: why they matter for fertility and herd performance Trace elements play a vital…
Effective pasture management can play a pivotal role in maintaining the health of your cattle and ensuring long term productivity…
Current situation Bluetongue is a notifiable disease affecting sheep, cattle, and other ruminants, spread by biting midges. In England, there…
High temperatures throughout summer can bring on heat stress in cows which consequently has effects on intakes, lameness, milk yield…
Farmer Guide Grass staggers in cattle: what farmers need to know Grass staggers is a serious metabolic condition caused by…
Blowfly strike is a common and serious issue for sheep, caused by the invasion of live tissue by fly larvae.…
Farmer Guide BSE in cattle: what farmers need to know Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease,…
Farmer Guide Tick control in livestock: risks, diseases, and how to manage them Ticks may be small, but they pose…
As the Irish climate transitions from cold to hot, it brings along a set of challenges for livestock owners, especially…
Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) is an insect borne viral disease, particularly affecting ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats. The virus spreads rapidly…
With the lambing season on the horizon, the Shanahan family, where farmer and social media influencer Katie Shanahan is a prominent member,…
As a new addition to Herdwatch’s Farm Smart series, we are partnering with leaders from the agriculture industry to provide…
Housing is one of the best times of the year for treating cattle against some of the more common internal…
From late March to early April is the time when calves are at the highest risk of developing health problems.…
The purpose of the drying off period is to give lactating animals a period of rest. This will give a…
If you control worms, it will allow your cattle to perform well and be free of clinical disease. But they…
To ensure the effectiveness of your wormer, and to avoid anthelmintic resistance on your farm, it is crucial to dose…
Following up from out previous blog on “Getting your worming strategy right”, we have decided to take a look at…
This autumn it’s important to assess the exposure that cattle may have had to worms during the grazing season, says…
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Sustainable Farming Incentive Set to Reopen in 2026: What English Farmers Need to Know
