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Webinar to give advice on sheep vaccine shortages
The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 4 October.
Experts will talk about supply issues and mitigating risks.

The National Sheep Association has announced that October’s Breakfast Club webinar will look at the shortages of sheep vaccines.

Jonathon Statham, chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England Commitee, will speak about the reasons for supply chain issues and how the problems might be resolved. He will also look at the long-term effects the current shortage might have.

He will be joined by Dr Joe Henry, a specialist beef and sheep veterinary surgeon, who will talk about how to mitigate the long-term impact of the vaccine shortage and what farmers can do if they can’t access vaccines.

In the past year, there have been supply issues with vaccines that prevent clostridial diseases, Pasteurellosis, abortion, lameness and orf.

In response, NSA has been in contact with manufacturing companies to try to resolve the shortages, as well as raising the issue with the Government at ministerial level. Recently, NSA wrote to Sir Robert Goodwill, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ((EFRA) select committee, suggesting the committee should investigate the problem.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker said: “NSA has endeavoured to keep its members and other UK sheep farmers up to date on the ongoing difficulties felt in sourcing vaccines via its NSA publications and online engagement.

“This webinar will add to this providing a fuller update on the vaccine availability situation across the UK, giving a a chance to attendees to hear and ask questions over alternative strategies to reduce disease risk.”

The webinar, which will be free to join, takes place at 8.30am on Wednesday, 4 October. Those interested in attending can register online.

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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.