disease control

Dr Meera Chand, emerging infection lead at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A (H5N1)"

Nigel Bennet, livestock area manager, Northern Europe, Roam Technology, reflects on the growing risk to UK agriculture due to inadequate biosecurity, weak border controls and a shrinking veterinary workforce

The NFU plea coincides with the first suspected bird flu outbreak of the season in Northern Ireland, which was recorded among a commercial flock in Co Tyrone

Farmers are urged to stay vigilant this lambing and calving season after cases of Schmallenberg have been identified in southern Scotland

No cases of the disease have been reported in the UK so far

Defra said the Government had inherited the laboratories in 'poor condition' and warned the current state of the facilities posed a 'significant risk to Britain's farmers and human health'

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet licensed the use of BTV-3 vaccines, but said they would keep it under review

NFU livestock board chair David Barton said: "We are incredibly disappointed to hear that some farmers in the Restricted Zone are being unfairly penalised by having deductions taken from some processors in the supply chain"

The session starts at 7pm on October 4

Defra estimated an ASF outbreak could cost the UK between £10 million to £100 million