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Farmers warned: early season blowfly
A record mild & dry spring is thought to be causing early blowfly.

Helen Langham, Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said she had received reports from sheep farmers via Novartis Animal Health Account Managers that at least fours farms in England and Wales had been affected so far.

The farms are in Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Devon and Llanelli. All the sheep were treated before the symptoms had gone too far.

"There is accumulating evidence that suggests the blowfly problem is starting earlier in the year and going on later. This year we have had a particularly mild and dry spring, which appears to be having an effect in a number of regions around the country," she said.

Thomas Tiley, a vet with Novartis Animal Health, said prevention was the best
way of dealing with blowfly, but farmers needed to be aware that the traditional
season for treatment was become earlier than before.

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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.