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Wiltshire lamb born without wool
Wool
Skippy's lack of wool is not a common condition.

Farmer fashions coat out of old fleece jacket 

A farmer in Wiltshire has come up with a novel way to keep a lamb warm that was born without any wool.

Sally-Ann Fisher from Chilton Foliat fashioned a fleece jacket out of an old jumper to keep the lamb warm at night.

Eleven-day-old Skippy, so called because he resembles a kangaroo, was abandoned by his mother.

Ms Fisher and her partner are now hand-rearing the lamb at their farm near Ramsbury.

Ms Fisher told the BBC that they were not aware that Skippy’s lack of wool was a condition or health problem.

“He’s just unlucky, but he’s doing great,” she said.

But Hannah Park from the National Sheep Association said that the condition was not common.

“Some breeds with less wool might be susceptible but it is extremely unusual and not something we would see,” she said. 

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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.