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Climate change linked to livestock diseases
Conference warned on outbreak frequency

The Farm Cutting Carbon Toolkit Conference was told yesterday (Monday 27th February) that outbreaks of disease such as the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) and Bluetongue would become more frequent unless the effects of climate change were urgently arrested.

Chief Advisor on Renewable Energy and Climate Change for the National Farmer's Union (NFU) Dr Jonathan Scurlock told those attending that the warmer climate meant that virus-carrying midges were 'thriving'. Dr Scurlock also added that drought will also become a more frequent problem in future years due to climate change.

Echoing Dr Scurlock's predictions, Chairman of Natural England Poul Christensen added that “We can see climate change impacting on our farms. Birds are nesting earlier and plants are flowering earlier. There should be no doubt about climate change and there should be no doubt about the need to tackle it.”

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Free event for the global unowned cat community

News Story 1
 International Cat Care (ICatCare) has announced a free, virtual event dedicated to caring for unowned cats to explore new ideas and ways of working.

iCatConnect 2025 takes place on Wednesday, 12 November, and is open to everyone working and volunteering with unowned cats. It will include a line-up of 12 international cat welfare experts, who will consider the bigger picture of unowned cats and explore practical, effective, and inclusive solutions.

Following the session, attendees can put their questions to the experts and share their views. They will also hear frontline challenges and real-world case studies shared by contributors working in shelters, TNR, community cat programmes, and veterinary teams from around the world. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.