vets

UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss said there was not any evidence to demonstrate it was a ‘circulating virus', with all the infections being incursion of infected midges

Dr Richard Irvine, who started the role in March 2023, said an expected assessment of the bTB target next year will serve as a ‘formal checkpoint' and an opportunity to ‘take stock' on the issue

Wales' Rural Affairs Minister said the policy of on-farm slaughter of heavily pregnant cows and heifers with TB is being considered as a ‘matter of priority' by her officials

Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said ‘steady progress' was being made in tackling bovine TB, but 'good biosecurity' on-farm was the best way to keep infection out

Ulster Farmers' Union president said the decision was a 'major blow' for livestock farmers, adding farming families have been on their knees due to this disease for generations

With voters expected to go the polls in around 12 months' time, livestock farmers told Farmers Guardian future policy on controlling bTB should not be part of ‘the political debate to be used as a vote winner'

The risk factors associated with keeping livestock are always changing, and managing day to day animal health challenges is critical

There is a global shortage of vets and vet technicians, and one veterinary college in Canada is taking steps to try and address the challenge in its local area

The Centre of Excellence in Aberystwyth want to engage with all stakeholders in a joint endeavour to find new and better ways of combatting bovine tuberculosis

Identifying residual disease risk in Pembrokeshire will be at the project’s core, alongside developing a pathway to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission