With autumn just around the corner, this special focus on animal health highlights the issues facing livestock farmers. Autumn is one of the highest-risk times for animal health with cattle coming off the fields for housing, rams being released with ewes and the mart trade booming with weanling sales.

Preventing disease should be the priority for all farmers. Matthew Halpin looks at This is undoubtedly the most stressful time in the weanling’s life and the time when respiratory diseases are most prevalent. The added stress of transport to and from marts or direct to farms only increases the risks. Proper weaning management and vaccines will greatly reduce the risk.

The Journal Vet highlights the risk posed by viruses like Bluetongue and Schmallenberg that are carried by midges. Will the risk be greater this year after a warm summer? Bluetongue has spread from France to England and the big risk is that it will spread from England to Ireland. Meanwhile, Aidan Brennan speaks to a Galway company at the forefront of antibiotic free mastitis treatments.

Sheep specialist Peter Varley goes through the main issues affecting the sheep flock. Of course, a lot of animal health is to do with the weather. While thrive was generally good this summer, there might be an increased risk of worms this back end, so keep that in mind when planning dosing regimes.

Despite the fact that the summer has been extremely dry, if the autumn proves wet then the risk of worm and fluke burdens will be high.

Read more

Wintering your weanlings

Shmallenberg and Bluetongue

New developments in antibiotic-free mastitis treatments