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Changes to bTB policy launched
Bovine TB changes have come into effect

The new bovine TB control policy announced by Defra in May has come into effect. The policy launched on 1st July 2012 and include changes such as:
Cattle compensation payments:
  • Reduced compensation for TB reactor cattle from herds with significantly overdue TB tests.
  • New cattle compensation (’table valuation’) categories.

TB pre-movement testing exemptions:
  • Ending of 30-day residency exemption for pre-movement testing.
  • Pre-movement testing of cattle in high TB risk herds will be required for movements to agricultural shows if cattle will be at the show for more than 24 hours and/or housed at the showground.
  • The exemption permitting movements within Sole Occupancy Authorities (SOAs) will be revised – for SOAs that span across the boundary of high and low TB risk areas, movements from holdings in high
  • TB risk areas within the SOA will require a pre-movement test.

Changes to Cattle Tracing System (CTS) links and Single Occupancy Authorities (SOA):
  • No new SOA applications, or requests for the addition of new holdings to existing SOAs, will be approved.
  • No new CTS links, or the renewal of existing links when they expire, will be permitted if the link includes holdings in both high and low TB risk areas. Links between holdings in high and low TB risk areas that do not currently have an expiry date will also be phased out.

More information can be found on the Defra website.

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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.