Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Pig Health and Welfare Council launch biennial report
Pig with vet
New and emerging diseases remain a major concern to the British pig industry.
Highlights progress made in the last two years

The Pig Health and Welfare Council (PHWC) has launched its biennial report highlighting progress made in the last two years.

Launched in the House of Commons on Thursday (16 July), the report also underlines the ambitious targets set for each of the Council's subgroups, including antimicrobials, pig meat safety, welfare and surveillance.

Meryl Ward, chairman of AHDB Pork, which is part of the PHWC, said: "It's a proactive partnership between cross-industry organisations and it's the way we work closely together that underpins success in achieving our 20:20 Pig Health and Welfare strategy goals."

New and emerging diseases remain a major concern to the British pig industry, with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) of high importance.

PHWC chairman professor Jim Scudamore added: “Much of the surveillance sub group’s work in the past year has been devoted to PED.  Development of the PED contingency plan for England, the standard operating procedures and diagnostic tests has required close collaboration across the pig industry, with considerable assistance from Animal and Plant Health Agency and Government.”

The report is available to download at www.pork.ahdb.org.uk.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.