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Update on mystery starling deaths
Preliminary findings indicate death due to trauma and internal bleeding.

APHA issues preliminary postmortem findings 

The APHA has issued an update on the 300 starlings found dead on an unclassified road in Anglesey, Wales, last week.

APHA officers seized some of the starlings for toxicology tests and a postmortem to learn how they died. In an update, the APHA said:

“Preliminary findings indicate death due to trauma and internal bleeding in many of the birds examined so far due to impact with the ground. We are working closely with the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team to obtain more information about the incident.


“We have investigated several incidents of mass mortality in groups of starlings previously. The underlying factors that may have been involved In this case are being investigated.”


The APHA added that it had also tested the starlings for avian influenza and that the results had come back negative.

The 300 starlings were found close to Llyn Llywenan, Bodedern, last Tuesday (10 Dec). Most of the birds were found dead on the road, with many others in the hedges, but none in the surrounding fields.

North Wales Police's Rural Crime Team, said: “We have received the initial post mortem examination findings of some of the starlings from our investigation in Anglesey, however, toxicology is still awaited. As soon as that's received we should be able to release the final outcome."


Anyone with information about the incident, which is believed to have occurred at around 3.40 pm, is urged to contact the police. 

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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.