Warning on Lime Washing
UK - NADIS has issued a warning to pig producers about the dangers of using lime washing as a means of sanitising concrete.

Sign up for Swine Dysentery Charter
UK - The Swine Dysentery Producer Charter is an important health initiative supported by BPEX. Controlling Swine Dysentery (SD) has the potential to save producers thousands of pounds.

Calls for Rethink on Farm Veterinary Service
UK - The veterinary profession needs to rethink its relationship with farmers and with the government, and play a more positive and central role in ensuring food safety, according to an independent report...

Defra Sees the Future of Farm Animal Vets
UK - A poorly developed demand for veterinary services rather than a shortage of farm animal veterinarians has been identified by a personal report published today by Professor Philip Lowe.

Report of APP Causing 10 Per Cent Finisher Mortality
UK - The Monthly Scanning Surveillance Report for June 2009 from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) highlights Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causing increased mortality...

Influenza in Pigs: Code of Practice
UK - The leading pig organisations in the country have prepared a Code of Practice for all forms of influenza, including influenza A H1N1.

Swine Dysentery Charter Formed for Yorkshire
UK - Yorkshire and Humberside’s £300,000 drive for lower production costs is now in full swing. Pig-keepers are forming local clusters and will share information about the health status of their pigs (see...

BPEX Strengthens Technical Team
UK - The environment and animal health are important priorities for the pig industry and BPEX is investing in both areas to provide an even better service for producers and processors.

£100M Boost for Animal Health Research
UK - The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) today welcomed the announcement by the Government of over £100 million investment by the...

Serious Health Threat from Weaner Imports
UK - The prospect of weaners being imported into Britain from the European mainland could pose a serious health threat to the UK pig herd, says Stephen Curtis, chairman of pig-breeding company ACMC Lt...

NADIS Veterinary Report & Forecast - July 2009
UK - This is a monthly report from the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS), looking at the data collected from their UK farm inspections.

Soil Association Highlights Superbug Threat
UK - The Soil Association is supporting calls from NPA to stop the importation of weaners.

Compassion in World Farming Opposes Trade
UK - Compassion in World Farming says it welcomes the National Pig Association’s campaign to prevent a trade in imported piglets which threatens to bring diseases such as MRSA from Belgium and Holland...

What is Good Biosecurity?
UK - Pig producers and their vets talk a lot about biosecurity... but what actually is it? "When it comes to determining what is good biosecurity, it's all a bit hazy, said Richard Lister.

2009 Defra Review: Reduction of Disease Risks
UK - The Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products 2008/09 was published yesterday.

NPA Launches Campaign to Keep Out Weaner-dealers
UK - Citing welfare and disease problems, the NPA said it will move heaven and earth to prevent the continent's cross-border weaner-dealer trade from crossing the Channel.

Removing Boar Taint Roulette May Mean Higher Sales
UK - In a survey of attendees at a recent Pig Veterinary Society meeting, 70 per cent claimed they could detect boar taint and 68 per cent agreed with the statement "Boar taint has a negative impact on...

NPA: Disease Cost Levy is a Very Blunt Tool
UK - NPA cannot sign up to Defra’s proposed cost and responsibility levy, says NPA general manager Barney Kay. For one thing, the proposed charging structure is not fair between the species.

ROYAL SHOW - UKECP Boosting Livestock and Meat Exports
UK - A livestock and meat export initiative launched at the Royal Show last year has now seen health certificates granted for products and animals to be traded around the world.

High Contract Prices Take the Shine Off Spot
UK - According to Peter Crichton, the recent heatwave seemed to knock some of the stuffing out of the market, although DAPP continues to move upwards and now stands at 154.59p providing an excellent return...

NFUS Wary of Creation of Independent Defra Body
UK - NFU Scotland, in its response to a Defra consultation on the creation of an Independent Body for Animal Health in England, has urged policymakers to take the impact on Scottish livestock farmers into...

Severe Outbreak of Glasser's Disease in VLA Report
UK - The Monthly Scanning Surveillance Report for May 2009 from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) highlights a case of swine dysentery of unknown origin, parasitic pneumonia, and a severe outbreak...

East Anglia Winning War Against Swine Dysentery
UK - The majority of East Anglia pigs are now in the region’s producer-run Swine Dysentery Eradication (Control) Scheme. And no breeding units in the scheme are positive for the disease, writes Digby ...

A Stand Against Defra's Animal Health Organisation
UK - The National Beef Association has joined with the Tenant Farmers Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, British Egg Industry Council, British Poultry Council, Livestock Auctioneers...

Health Service for Pigs to be Launched
UK - A health service for pigs is being launched in Yorkshire and Humberside. It aims to chart the health of all pig herds in the two counties and to bring pig-keepers together to reduce common pig illnesses...