Bespoke vet support for healthy red meat sector

A NEW initiative has been launched to offer beef and sheep farmers specialist veterinary support, as part of a new flock and herd health planning project that is aimed at improving efficiency across the whole red meat sector.

Part of the £9.2m Red Meat Development Programme announced earlier this year, the project, delivered by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), will bring farmers and vets together to compile, review and enact comprehensive animal health plans which will be tailored to individual farms.

This will help farmers to proactively prevent diseases in their herds and flocks, maximise the health and performance of their livestock, and target interventions effectively to reduce costs.

Dr Rebekah Stuart, HCC’s new flock and herd health executive, said; “This is a long-term project, with support available for up to three years, to trial a range of proactive interventions to maximise animal health and increase on-farm profitability.

“The project will engage with farmers and vets to create an action plan, manage on-farm biosecurity, monitor progress and collect data.

“We’re now looking for the first cohort of farmers to engage with this exciting project, with an expression of interest window open until the end of the year.

Dafydd Jones, of Ystwyth Vets in Aberystwyth, said: “Proactive flock and herd health management can make a real difference on-farm and can increase the sustainability and profitability of a business.

“I would encourage beef and sheep farmers to find out more about this project, to see how they could benefit.”

Professor Christianne Glossop, the chief veterinary officer for Wales, said: “This is an exciting development which will help sheep and beef farms in Wales to maximise their performance by achieving high standards of animal health, welfare and productivity.

“Ensuring optimal animal health and welfare is key to the success of livestock businesses, and is one of main goals of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework.

“This initiative will enable sheep and beef farmers and their vet to embed health planning in their business.

“While the principle of prevention being better than cure is an old one, this project has several new features designed to deliver measurable, long-term improvements of flock and herd performance.

“I would urge all sheep and beef farmers in Wales to consider, with their vet, whether they can make use of this important new initiative.”