From today, June 26, livestock farmers in England can access funded vet visits for multiple herds or flocks belonging to the same farming business, helping to support better health and profitability within the sector.
During an Animal Health and Welfare Review, a vet of your choice will conduct disease testing for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in pigs. They will also assess biosecurity measures, identify potential risks and offer tailored advice to improve the health, welfare and productivity of your animals.
Based on the findings of the initial review, further assessments will be carried out by the vet in an endemic disease follow-up. It will focus on:
- sampling and testing: checking for specific diseases or conditions.
- biosecurity assessment: identifying risks and recommending improvements.
- health and welfare advice: providing tailored guidance to enhance animal health, welfare, and productivity
You can apply for £557 for a pig review and a further £923 for a follow-up.
Previously, farmers could only claim for a review and follow-up for a single herd or flock of either beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs or sheep, but the review has now been opened up more widely.
- Applications take just 90 seconds and can be made HERE
- It then takes less than 3 minutes to claim for the funding.
Action
Since funded vet visits began in 2023 there have been more than 8,000 visits, with more than 95% of farmers saying that they have or will take action based on the advice of their vet.
The expansion to the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway will provide farmers a more comprehensive understanding of livestock health on farms with many groups of animals, whether mixed holdings or larger farms with many groups of a single species, Defra said.
Food security and rural affairs minister Daniel Zeichner said: “The vet visit roll-out gives eligible farmers access to tailored support to each herd or flock. It is one step in the Government’s plan to protect rural livelihoods, tackle disease and safeguard high welfare standards across our food chain.”
Bryan and Liz Griffiths, Livestock farmers in North Devon, said: “We have received government supported vet visits since the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway began. These have allowed us to focus on issues specific to our farm as well as the set program.
“Going forward the new multi-flock and herd option along with the multi-species option will allow funding for a review and follow up for each flock and species on the farm, all through one agreement, which is great.
Keepers of beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep or pigs, can all apply for a vet of their choice to assess all their herds and flocks along with an optional, funded, follow-up assessment.”