New SFI Animal Health and Welfare Pathway Opportunities
August 8, 2024
Over the past 18 months, many farmers have been benefiting from the Animal Health and Welfare Review. Further support is now available to help reduce the levels of endemic disease in livestock.
The initial review involves a vet visiting your farm to put together a health plan with a focus on improving health and welfare, and increasing productivity. A sheep review requires a wormer drench check test whilst a cattle review requires bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) blood antibody or bulk milk testing. Endemic disease follow-up testing can only be done after a review has been completed, and must be done no more than 10 months after the review. Reviews and follow-ups can be repeated up to 3 times, with at least 10 months between each review and at least 10 months between each follow-up.
Follow-up testing for sheep involves selecting a sheep health package to investigate. These are: ewe condition, reproductive performance, lamb performance, neonatal lamb survival, external parasites, and lameness. This means the funding can be used for a very wide variety of disease testing, including Maedi-Visna (MV), Johne’s, trace elements, metabolic status, causes of abortion, sheep scab, and much more. The funding can be used for other accreditation schemes you are already a member of, such as MV accreditation.
Follow-up testing for beef cattle involves further investigation into BVD if it was found to be present during the initial review. If all BVD results were negative, no further testing is required but a BVD-focused biosecurity assessment must be completed. Follow-up testing is not available for dairy cattle yet.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/farmers-how-to-apply-for-funding-to-improve-animal-health-and-welfare. Or ring the office to chat about how you could benefit.
The following funding is currently available:
| Species | Minimum number of animals required | Animal Health and Welfare Review Funding | Endemic Disease Follow-Up Funding |
| Sheep | 21 or more | £436 | £639 |
| Beef Cattle | 11 or more | £522 | £837 if BVD result is positive
£215 if BVD result is negative |
| Dairy Cattle | 11 or more | £372 | N/A |
