NFU Scotland welcomed the news of Müller’s investment, which also includes contractual changes for the Scottish dairy farmers who supply the former Yew Tree site. 

Negotiations by Yew Tree producer representatives will see the new contract take effect from 1st November 2025, rather than 1st January 2026.  

Supplying farmers will have the option to either receive a Müller Direct Skelmersdale price, calculated using a combination of the existing Müller Direct liquid and ingredients price – which uses published global indices – or a Müller ingredients price.

However, although the contract marks an improvement for most producers, it will still leave them receiving a price that is likely to be significantly below the national average, NFU Scotland said.   

Müller said the investment will enhance its liquid milk production capacity, capability and quality, and create a flagship facility for milk drying.

With the capacity to produce 30% more powdered milk, the business will become a major producer and exporter of powdered milk products made in Britain, with milk from British farms, Müller claims.

It will also recruit 40 new staff from control room technicians and forklift drivers to engineers, and management and support.

Stark inequality 

Scottish dairy farmers on Yew Tree contracts have endured some of the lowest milk prices in the industry. 

The Scottish farming union said it has repeatedly raised the alarm about the unsustainable pricing model and the pressures it places on farm viability and farmer wellbeing. 

NFU Scotland milk committee chair Bruce Mackie said: 

“At a time when many milk producers in Scotland have experienced welcome price and market stability, those supplying under Yew Tree contracts have been left behind, struggling to survive on a milk price that is both unprofitable and unsustainable. 

“The average milk price in Scotland hides a stark inequality.”

The gap between the highest and lowest-paid producers is over 16p per litre, and Yew Tree suppliers are persistently anchored at the bottom. 

“This is unacceptable and has pushed several businesses to the brink, both financially and mentally,” he added.

Although the latest announcement is a step in the right direction, the timeline means there will be little immediate relief to farmers who are under immense strain, prompting the union to call for urgent interim price increases.

Disappointing silence 

NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon, who wrote directly to Müller’s UK CEO in June seeking a meeting on this matter, commented: 

“We’ve made it clear to Müller that change is needed, not only to support Scottish Yew Tree suppliers but to provide clarity on the company’s future commitment to its Scottish milk field.”

The union has so far received no reply to its letter or request for a conversation.

“That silence is disappointing,” Mr Connon added. 

“Yew Tree suppliers are family farming businesses currently on the bottom rung that deserve to hear vision and ambition from Müller UK & Ireland on their route to a profitable milk price. 

“It is in all our interests that all producer suppliers are confident of a future in milking cows and I would wish to discuss with Müller UK & Ireland its plans to engage constructively and work with the sector to build a sustainable future for Scottish dairy. 

“Scottish farms offer processors like Müller UK & Ireland strategic advantages in climate resilience and biosecurity, especially during prolonged drought and climate instability. 

“These contributions to national food security must be recognised more directly in the milk cheque.” 

With the new Fair Dealing legislation on milk contracts now in place, NFUS is also calling on major processors like Müller to show industry leadership by offering fair contracts across all their farmer suppliers. 

What Müller has said

Commenting on the latest announcement, Rob Hutchison, CEO of Müller Milk & Ingredients said:

“Since we acquired Yew Tree Dairy, the teams have been working day and night, not just internally, but closely with its customers and suppliers to integrate the Skelmersdale operation into the wider Müller business.

“At the time of the acquisition, we said we wanted to go even further and invest significantly in this location.

“And that’s exactly what we’re doing, we are enhancing our liquid milk production capacity, capability and quality, and creating a flagship facility for milk drying – one of the biggest and most flexible milk balancing sites in the UK.

“With significant investment in the Skelmersdale site, its people and supplying farms, we are creating exciting new opportunities for the whole supply chain, which in turns helps us on our journey to build a better future for British dairy sector.”

Müller reached an agreement to acquire Yew Tree Dairy, based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, in June last year. 

The dairy business came under fire again in April this year after Müller asked some farmers to ‘responsibly dispose’ of milk after operational issues at the Skelmersdale plant. 

Read more dairy news.

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Although the dreadful weather over the summer of 2024 saw yields from forage drop sharply, the reasonably high milk price and lower feed costs meant margins remained firm. In fact, given the most favourable milk price, feed price ratio since 2001, the average margin over purchased feed (MOPF) was the strongest for a very long time, bar the milk spikes of 2022.

All reported health indicators saw year-on-year improvements. Mastitis dropped to 24 cases per 100 cows (down by two), and lameness from 37 to 34 cases per 100 cows. However, fertility last year saw a bit of a slide, most likely due to the poor-quality forage. Calving intervals extended by a day to 394 days, and days to first service crept up by two days to 72, the report found.

The age of cows at exit is steadily declining, but the proportion of selected versus forced culls has increased again, year on year. And given the higher milk prices, the cost of poor fertility and health increased, both on a per-case and per-herd basis.

Compare your figures

Emma Puddy, farm services specialist at Kingshay, said: “This year housing-focused, all-year-round calving herds had the highest MOPF per cow at £2,937/cow, and the highest margin per litre was achieved by the low- to moderate-yielding organic herds, at 41.15ppl.

“When it comes to MOPF, we are still seeing large ranges, even within the same production systems, where groups of herds have similar goals.”

Drawing on data from 1,064 conventional herds and 98 organic herds, the report showed a wide variation between the top and bottom quartile within each production system.

Organic herds made a strong showing after a difficult few years, with the milk price reaching a record high of 53.17ppl in March 2025. Milk from forage remains a key strength, with 44% of milk derived from forage compared to below 30% for conventional producers.

“It seems milk from forage is still very strongly linked to MOPF, with conventional herds in the top 10% for milk from forage achieving a margin that was 20% higher per cow and 14% higher per litre,” Mrs Puddy continued.

“The best way for a farm business to see where they are successful and where they could improve is by putting their figures side-by-side with other producers in similar systems. We hope that by publishing this report we can help farmers to do exactly that and to find ways to continue the positive trends we’ve seen.”

The full report can be found on the Kingshay website.

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Weekly summary reports, compiled using data from Galebreaker and Phibro Health’s online THI-Live tool between 9th June to 6th July, reveal troubling trends in cow comfort, as much of the UK experienced two heatwaves in a matter of weeks.

Average shed temperatures reached concerning levels, with some regions recording peaks over 30°C. 

Worryingly figures from mid-Wales and the south of England showed temperature-humidity index (THI) exceeded 80, a threshold that signals severe heat stress. 

The south and the Midlands faced persistent heat stress, with the average THI remaining above 65 for most of June. 

In these areas, cows experienced increased respiration rates, reduced standing and lying times, and greater water consumption, all indicative of severe discomfort.

Remain vigilant 

Galebreaker’s animal welfare specialist, Chloe Rodriguez, urges dairy farmers to remain vigilant when critical THI thresholds are exceeded regularly. 

“Prolonged heat stress not only impacts cow welfare it can severely affect conception rates. While decreased Dry Matter Intake (DMI) during hot weather negatively influences milk yield, quality, and overall profitability,” says Ms Rodriguez.

“These effects may not become apparent until several weeks later when cows are tested for conception or milk quality, by which time it’s too late to address. 

“Fortunately, adjusting management practices in anticipation of hot and humid conditions can help to mitigate these impacts.”

Mitigation strategies 

Regularly monitoring THI and prompt action are the best ways to diminish heat stress and protect cows from its worst effects. 

Recommendations to improve animal welfare include ensuring sheds are properly ventilated to regulate airflow.

Having access to a supply of fresh water will help prevent dehydration. Similarly, adjusting feeding schedules to take advantage of cooler overnight temperatures encourages greater intakes so cows have adequate nutrition. 

This can also be supplemented with feed additives designed to improve water retention.

READ MORE: Scottish Govt criticised as suckler sector faces economic clearance
READ MORE: Experts share top tips on how to protect cattle and sheep from heat stress

Long-range outlook

The Met Office’s long-range forecast indicates continued extreme weather conditions, as in-shed temperatures are expected to rise again as we move towards late summer. 

With the current trend of high THI readings likely to persist well into August and September, dairy farmers are advised to remain proactive in their management strategies.

“Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense – the dairy sector needs to prepare itself for the inevitable. 

“With the right interventions, the impact of heat stress can be alleviated. Galebreaker is supporting farmers with data and advice to help protect herds and maintain productivity during the warmer months ahead,” concludes Ms Rodriguez.

Read more livestock news.

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Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director at AIMS, said that while the QMS campaign promotes unity and a public show of commitment to the red meat supply chain, the association argues that without firm policy, financial backing, and practical support from the Scottish Government, such pledges are “little more than political theatre”.

He continued: “Having spent years demanding significant reduction in livestock number to meet their precious climate goals, ministers may claim they do not support the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation to cut livestock numbers, but their actions — or lack thereof — suggest otherwise.

“Not one substantive programme exists to stabilise or rebuild the national beef herd. Instead, years of dithering, weak leadership, and disjointed policy have stripped confidence from producers, who are quietly exiting the sector in droves.”

READ MORE: Scottish industry leaders call to support local red meat over imports

‘Scottish Government must act’

Mr Aldiss added that this is not simply a market adjustment. He called it “an economic clearance — a slow-motion dismantling of the suckler sector by political neglect”.

“The echoes of the Highland Clearances are chilling. This time, it is not the landowners driving people out but a government that has chosen gesture politics over governance.

“The Scottish red meat industry — producers and processors alike — are crying out for leadership. What they get instead are press releases.”

AIMS’ executive director explained that Scotland’s beef processors have made long-term investments in domestic supply, infrastructure, export markets, quality standards and Scotland’s premium beef brand, PGI Scotch Beef.

“They rely on a sustainable flow of cattle, which is now under existential threat. Rather than standing idly by while farmers sell off cows and grasslands fall silent, the Scottish Government must act.

“It must create a framework that offers genuine incentives for producers to maintain and grow herd numbers and ensure that processors have the raw material to continue adding value, providing jobs, feeding the nation and driving growth through exports to high-value markets.

“This is a moment for candour: without urgent, coordinated, and properly funded policy intervention, Scotland will lose a large part of its red meat industry. The silence from Holyrood is not neutrality — it is complicity,” Mr Aldiss concluded.

READ MORE: Consumers prefer home-grown meat rather than its cheaper imported alternatives

Read more livestock news.

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The experts have identified the main signs of heat stress in livestock, which are, among others, refusal to lie down; huddling or bunching, especially around water troughs or fresh, cool air breezes or near the top of sheds; body splashing – attempting to wet coat by splashing head in water trough; increased drinking and/or increased respiration rate; as well as high rectal temperature over 39°C in cattle and 41°C in sheep.

Open-mouth breathing, head extended, tongue protruding, profuse salivation and front legs held wide to increase lung volume are also signs of advanced heat stress.

If nothing is done to relieve the situation and their body temperature remains high, the animal could collapse and die, AHDB warns.

High temperatures can also affect feed intakes, growth rates, ovulation, conception rates and bull/ram fertility.

AHDB experts have created a list of top tips for preventing heat stress in cattle and sheep.

Managing cattle in hot weather

• Make sure all cattle have access to a good supply of clean drinking water and keep water out of direct sunlight. Water intakes will increase by up to 10–20% in hot weather
• Avoid unnecessary handling of cattle. Handle cattle quietly and calmly in the early morning and not in the heat of the day. Cattle need time to recover from high daytime temperature, so avoid handling in the evening as well
• Give cows the option to go inside if they find that more comfortable
• Reduce walking distance to the parlour
• Reduce time spent in holding areas and avoid keeping animals too tightly stocked in collecting areas or pens
• Consider feeding in the late afternoon rather than the morning. This will allow the heat from rumen fermentation, which peaks four to six hours after feeding, to be dissipated during the cooler evening/night-time
• Provide shade where possible. Offer housing as shade – covering or painting over translucent roof sheets in a shed can dramatically reduce the temperature. Trees can provide shade, but cows camping under trees is a high risk for Strep uberis
• High temperatures can also affect fertility. Be aware of the potential for reduced intensity of expression of heat and longer oestrus periods in breeding females
• Take steps to control flies, as these can spread disease and cause cattle to congregate
• Cool cattle by using a water sprinkler system to wet their coats after milking
• Air movement – ideally generate at least 1.5–2 m/s air movement (breeze) for skin cooling and to evaporative heat loss. Place fans over beds to encourage lying times (rest), set at the right intervals and angled to blow down onto the cows. Helicopter-style rotor fans can do this too. In UK conditions, the stack effect is still the best way to drive air exchange and remove humidity. This means farmers should focus on fans for air movement at cow level within the shed, as opposed to fans for air exchange. This is quite different from artificial ventilation in calf houses, where the aim is to use mechanical means for air exchange, while avoiding excessive draughts at calf level
• Pay special attention to sick cows. They are likely to benefit from rapid and regular pumping with a sufficient volume of oral fluids and electrolytes.

Managing sheep in hot weather

• Provide grazing stock with access to fields that have sufficient shade from hedges or trees and be alert for fly problems. If necessary, consider housing animals
• Move, gather, handle or transport animals in the cooler conditions of the early morning or late evening wherever possible
• Give special attention to lambs because they are more susceptible to heat stress than adult sheep
• Consider providing extra forage during the cooler times to help compensate for reduced feeding activity in the heat
• Make sure all sheep have access to a good supply of clean drinking water
• If housing, ensure buildings are adequately ventilated and increase space allowances by reducing stocking densities if possible. There should be 1m² of floor space per ewe and 0.6–0.7m² per lamb (25–35 kg)
• Maintain good drainage and ventilation in areas of accommodation prone to wetting to avoid the additional heat stress caused by high humidity.

Managing prolonged dry conditions

As it comes to grassland management, AHDB recommends to farmers to avoid overgrazing and protect regrowths by not grazing below the 1,500 kg DM/ha (4 cm) residuals. 

Farmers should also consider having a sacrifice field to avoid overgrazing paddocks, maintain rotation length at 24–28 days if grass growth has slowed down and be careful of carrying fields with high grass cover, as these might go backwards. 

AHDB experts added: “Do not apply N fertiliser if no rain is in the forecast, as the plants will have little ability to utilise this into growth in dry conditions, and it risks livestock ingesting fertiliser, which is toxic.” 

Farmers have been also encouraged to “make a plan B” to fill a possible deficit gap.

Water 

Water requirements for milking cows is 120–140 litres per day. A 70 kg ewe at peak lactation requires more than 7 litres per day and a lactating suckler cow will drink 40–70 litres, AHDB explained. 

Trough capacity and pipe size must be correct to supply water rapidly. Farmers need to provide enough space so all those that want to drink at any one time can do so. 

“Consider placing extra troughs in the fields or near the parlour if it does not restrict cow flow. This takes the pressure off the trough in the field. 

“Check regularly – algal growth and contamination will reduce water consumption,” the AHDB experts concluded. 

Read more livestock news.

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Successful reproduction is the bedrock of any profitable cattle enterprise, whether it’s a dairy unit striving for high milk yields or a beef suckler herd aiming for strong, fast-growing calves.

In the UK, farmers have long relied on a combination of natural service and artificial insemination (AI) to maintain and improve their herds. 

However, a new era of advanced reproductive technologies is increasingly offering producers powerful tools to accelerate genetic progress, enhance efficiency, and add significant value to their operations. 

While traditional methods remain prevalent, the drive for continuous improvement in traits like milk production, growth rate, feed efficiency, and disease resistance is leading many UK farmers to explore more sophisticated options. This is where multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and embryo transfer (ET) come into their own.

MOET

At its core, MOET involves collecting embryos from a genetically superior female (the donor) and transferring them into the reproductive tract of a recipient female who will carry the pregnancy to term.

This immediately allows a valuable cow to produce far more offspring in her lifetime than she could through natural calving. Instead of one calf per year (or slightly more with good fertility management), a donor cow can produce multiple embryos following a single ‘flush’. 

The process typically begins with hormonal treatment of the donor cow to induce superovulation, meaning she releases multiple eggs during a single oestrus cycle instead of just one or two.

Following insemination (usually with semen from a high-merit bull), these embryos are allowed to develop for about a week in the donor’s uterus before being non-surgically flushed out.

These collected embryos are then assessed, graded, and either transferred fresh into synchronised recipient cows or frozen for later use or sale.

The added value of conventional MOET is clear: accelerated genetic gain by getting multiple progeny from elite cows and bulls in a shorter timeframe; increased offspring from valuable animals multiplying their impact on the herd’s future and flexibility because frozen embryos allow for transfers when recipient animals are available or for the sale of valuable genetics.

Embryo transfer can also be a valuable tool in managing certain diseases within a herd, as embryos can be collected from infected but genetically valuable animals and transferred into disease-free recipients, producing healthy calves.

IVF

In vitro fertilisation takes the process a step further by collecting oocytes (eggs) directly from the donor cow’s ovaries, often via a technique called ovum pick-up (OPU). These oocytes are then matured and fertilised with semen in a laboratory setting (‘in vitro’ means ‘in glass’). The resulting embryos are cultured for several days before being transferred to recipient cows or frozen.

IVF offers distinct advantages, particularly in situations where conventional MOET may not be feasible:

Accessing genetics from young or pregnant animals: Oocytes can be collected from heifers before they reach puberty or even from pregnant cows without harming the developing calf, further shortening the generation interval.

Efficiency with expensive or sexed semen: IVF requires less semen per oocyte than AI or MOET, making it a more cost-effective option.

Greater flexibility in donor management: Donors can be OPU’d more frequently than they can be flushed for MOET, allowing for a more continuous supply of embryos.

Utilising problem breeders: IVF can be used to obtain embryos from valuable cows that may have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy naturally, or those that don’t respond well to superovulation for MOET.

ET and IVF

Whether the embryos are produced via MOET or IVF, the final step for creating a pregnancy is embryo transfer (ET). The success of ET relies heavily on having a healthy, well-synchronised recipient cow or heifer whose reproductive cycle is at the same stage as the collected embryo. 

The added value of incorporating these technologies into a UK cattle farming business is multifaceted. Beyond the accelerated genetic progress and increased offspring from elite animals, these techniques can contribute to improved herd health through selecting for disease resistance traits; increased sale of high-value genetics through selling surplus embryos or progeny at a premium; more efficient use of resources by focusing breeding efforts on the most genetically valuable animals and greater control over breeding programmes.

Implementing advanced reproductive technologies does require investment in terms of cost, time, and management expertise.

Success rates can vary depending on factors such as donor and recipient health, the skill of the practitioners, and the specific technology used.

However, for many UK cattle farmers looking to stay competitive and drive their herds forward genetically, the added value that MOET, IVF, and ET can bring makes them increasingly attractive options.

Working closely with a veterinary practice or breeding service provider experienced in these techniques is key to unlocking their full potential.

For more information visit the Paragon Vets website.

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As a result, farmers have been encouraged to treat affected cows with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) while awaiting their Mastatest results, then use the results to administer an appropriate treatment for their cow’s mastitis – where over one in four cases do not actually need antibiotic therapy.   

Launched in July 2023, CVS Farm’s dairy cow mastitis campaign, which operates across 15 of its farm practices  UK-wide, aims to improve the role of farm vets in dairy cow mastitis decision-making – using culture and sensitivity testing.  

The project uses diagnostic testing to inform appropriate treatments and management decisions, as well as to target antibiotic treatment only where indicated. It is hoped the project will reduce the use of antibiotics, lower their systemic use, and help to guard against antimicrobial resistance in the future. 

Mastatest technology  

Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory response of the udder tissue in the mammary gland caused by physical trauma or microorganism infections. It is considered the most common disease leading to economic loss in the dairy industry due to reduced yield and poor quality of milk. 

Less than half of mild to moderate clinical mastitis cases are likely to benefit from antibiotic therapy. It is vital to differentiate them from those that will benefit from prompt treatment, CVS Farm experts said. 

A major barrier to achieving this has been the need to send milk samples off to a lab, resulting in a turnaround time of 48 hours or more and a delay in treatment.  

To overcome this barrier, CVS has invested in Mastatest technology for all 15 of its farm practices. They are now able to perform in-house milk sample culture and sensitivity testing in 20-24 hours – to identify if pathogens are present and which, if any, antibiotics are most suitable as a treatment. 

Emails containing each set of Mastatest results are sent to CVS’ vets and their farmers as soon as they are produced. Treatment plans – predetermined by the vet and farmer when initially setting up the Mastatest machine – can then immediately be actioned. A live online dashboard also allows both parties to view summary data across all samples tested.  

‘Practical and effective day-to-day care’ 

CVS’ Farm Vets started to introduce the new dairy cow Mastatest quality improvement project in July 2023. The group has now run nearly 700 clinical samples and 150 high cell count milk samples. From clinical case samples tested so far, 34% had either had no bacterial growth or E.coli infection. It is likely that these cows would go on to self-cure without the need for antibiotics.  

S.uberis has been found in 16% of clinical case samples to date, requiring antibiotic treatment. By looking at the results of Mastatest antibiotic sensitivity testing for S.uberis, CVS Farm practices have been able to move away from broad-spectrum category C antibiotics to narrow-spectrum category D penicillins to further safeguard antibiotic use.  

Steven Carragher, farm quality improvement lead at CVS Farm, said: “Bovine mastitis is a significant cause of financial loss to dairy farmers. Our farm practices want to provide practical and effective day-to-day care.  

“The rapid Mastatest technology and support we’ve set up in every practice is proving to quickly result in the right treatment for individual cases of mastitis. The programme is also a significant step towards reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, helping to safeguard against antimicrobial resistance and aiming to increase the health, welfare and productivity of cows on dairy farms.”  

The Mastatest campaign has been a team-wide project within CVS Farm practices. Whilst farm staff and vets have taken samples on the farm, administration staff and vet techs have set up and run the samples on Mastatest machines within practice.  

CVS Farm is taking a ‘One Health’ approach to clinical improvement and developing practical projects to address related challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance and improving animal welfare.  

Read more livestock news.  

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The pressure to tackle Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) across the UK and Ireland is currently very high. 

The recently published document examines the new way for dairy herds to indicate low risk for BVD to their buyers following the end of the BVDFree programme and updated risk categories for Johne’s Disease. 

Vet James Russell, who is a CHECS board member as well as a non-executive director of the Animal Health & Welfare Board for England, said that CHECS disease protocols are an industry “bedrock”, and the latest update is well-timed for a number of changes taking place in 2025. 

“CHECS has been accrediting and setting industry standards for infectious cattle disease control since 1999. 

“We’re in a unique situation globally, in that standards are developed through consensus by a volunteer group of veterinary and scientific specialists under the CHECS umbrella, then adopted as a single ‘best practice’ across the whole of the UK and Ireland,” he continued. 

New bluetongue controls announced

The news follows last week’s announcement by the Welsh Government, which states that from 1st July 2025 all BTV-3 susceptible animals (sheep, cattle, goats, deer and camelids) moving from the RZ (i.e., England) to Wales will need a negative pre-movement test and a specific licence. There will be an exemption in place for any animals moving direct to slaughter. 

The Welsh Government confirmed that a specific movement licence will be administered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The pre-movement test must be arranged and paid for privately. 

At the end of May, DEFRA confirmed that from 1st July 2025 the restricted zone for bluetongue will be extended to cover all of England. 

Once DEFRA moves England to become a whole country RZ, the free testing that is currently available will end. 

READ MORE: Wales: Concerns raised as new bluetongue controls have been announced

Protocols to provide consistency across UK and Ireland

While speaking about the CHECS protocols, Mr Russell added that even if farmers are not part of a CHECS-accredited cattle health scheme, the chances are the labs they send samples to are licensed with CHECS, and the vets they work with should be observing CHECS protocols. 

“All this means consistency across the UK and Ireland about how insidious diseases such as BVD, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Johne’s Disease should be tackled and how the risk of herds having those diseases is communicated,” the expert said. 

The updated protocols include the new Dairy BVD Negative programme based on quarterly bulk milk testing and youngstock screening. Although it is primarily aimed at farmers who were involved in the now-defunct BVDFree England, it lands at a time when BVD is a particularly hot topic with devolved and Irish control programmes ramping up action on the disease. 

Mr Russell explained that the reason why BVD is being targeted by governments is because it is extremely “eradicable” and there are very high returns for farmers in doing so. 

“The suppressed immunity BVD causes has been calculated to cost UK farmers up to £61 million per year; that’s £6.50 for every single bovine. In Ireland the cost estimate is even higher at over €13/£11 per animal. 

“Yet the biggest risk with BVD remains not looking for it because it hides in plain sight, amplifying cases of pneumonia or scours, and preventing animals from recovering despite treatment. Hence, identifying whether BVD is the cause of other health issues in your herd is one of the most cost-beneficial steps a cattle farmer can take,” he concluded. 

‘Important and costly disease’

While BVD is dominating the headlines at the moment, other diseases continue to cause not just economic but emotional loss. One of the most challenging remains Johne’s Disease – and a second major change in the new protocols is the introduction of an additional level of Johne’s Disease Risk-Level Certification, Risk Level 1, the body that supports cattle farmers explained. 

This development follows several years of divergence among industry experts about how risk from Johne’s Disease – which is extremely complex and difficult to control – can be accurately and consistently communicated. 

As before, Risk Level 1 (R1) for Johne’s Disease is awarded to low-risk herds passing three consecutive annual herd tests, whether on faecal matter or blood. However, R1 herds that also have no positive blood tests for more than 12 months will become Risk Level 1* (R1*), the lowest level of risk. 

CHECS veterinary director Keith Cutler said that the changes to CHECS’s Johne’s Disease risk levels are robust but very fair. He added: “Most importantly, they will help vets and farmers more accurately gauge risk. 

“Agreeing this change was a tough and lengthy process, but Johne’s Disease is such an important and costly disease to both dairy and beef sectors, it was worth persevering. 

“If anything, the process has shown the resilience of the CHECS technical group in that its members will stand up for what they believe in, but do so for the good of those who keep cattle. 
“That’s why, as a practising vet, I would urge farmers to use CHECS protocols where they can. Even if you don’t want to go to the lengths of joining a CHECS-accredited cattle health scheme, make sure your vet is incorporating CHECS protocols into your herd health plan. It’s best practice for free.” 

Read the new CHECS technical document here. 

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From summer 2026, DEFRA will introduce changes to cattle identification, registration and reporting. Electric ID (EID) will become mandatory for all new-born calves from 2027.

The government said that these changes will simplify regulations and support industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.

MSD Animal Health is now urging beef and dairy farmers in England to use the latest Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) to part-fund the purchase of EID equipment, including handheld stick readers, shedding gates, panel readers and weighing systems.

The FETF grant offers up to 50% funding towards the cost of a wide selection of EID equipment, potentially saving farmers hundreds of pounds as they prepare for the new mandate to come into effect.

READ MORE: Electronic ID for cattle to become mandatory

‘Timely opportunity to save money’

Johnny Mackey, MSD Animal Health’s stakeholder engagement lead, explained: “For producers who have yet to make the transition over to EID, or those looking to upgrade or replace existing equipment, the latest round of grant funding offers a timely opportunity to save money on some key pieces of technology and to ensure they have everything in place ahead of the new rules coming into effect.”

The expert added: While the DEFRA announcement cites the introduction of mandatory EID as a major step forward in disease control and trade across the farming sector, electronic identification also offers growers the chance to make some notable improvements to the way their herds are managed.

“Beef and dairy producers who have voluntarily introduced EID into their herds are already seeing significant time savings when recording tag numbers electronically.

“Using a stick or wand reader to scan tags not only saves a huge amount of time when animals are being moved, treated, or weighed, but also removes the scope for human error to creep into record keeping. It also enables tasks such as drafting to be automated, and negates the need for pen and paper when working in wet and windy environments,” Mr Mackey continued.

The data generated by EID can also be transferred to farm management software programmes quickly and reliably to create a lifetime of data for each animal.

“This data can then be used to assess each animal’s performance, medical history and overall merit within the herd, in turn empowering herd managers to make informed breeding and culling decisions which could improve the farm’s overall profitability and viability,” the expert concluded.

Relevant EID items available for grant funding under the latest FETF include:

Grant funding is also available for MSD Animal Health’s herd monitoring system, SenseHub, under FETF315CA – Automatic health and welfare remote monitoring system.

Applications for the 2025 FETF are currently open. For more information, click here.

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West Midlands Police responded to reports of a bull running loose in the Digbeth area of Birmingham on Friday morning, 6th June. 

The animal was eventually ushered into a former Dunelm store.

Birmingham City Council posted on its social media: ‘Council staff weren’t fazed when they came across a stray bull roaming the streets of Birmingham. 

‘When asked to help, our street cleansing crew were on the case, rapidly devising a plan to move this beautiful, albeit misplaced, animal to safety.’

The Dexter bull, which is believed to be two years old, was checked over by an animal welfare team and then transferred to the care of West Midlands Police. 

It's a first here at Boyne News as we cover something from across the water.

A bull freely roams the Streets of Small Heath in Birmingham.

According to one eye witness, the bull was looking for the bull ring in Birmingham City Centre!!!! pic.twitter.com/9glYQwH8Ea

— Boyne News (@BoyneNews) June 7, 2025

New home

The local authority said the council’s team attempted to identify the bull’s owner but Wendy Valentine, of Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, told BBC News that no one came forward to claim the animal and said she “pulled every string” in order to rehome the bull.

She is quoted by BirminghamLive as saying the bull was traced to a farm in Leicestershire, prompting the theory that he had escaped from an abattoir. The case has prompted speculation on farming forums as to why the animal could not be traced to its original owner, and whether TB testing was carried out.

Now called Liam, the bull was transferred to the sanctuary, which houses over 4,000 animals, in the early hours of Saturday.  

A bull, believed to have escaped from an abattoir and seen roaming around Birmingham city centre, has been rehomed and given a name!

Here is Liam being introduced to his new home at Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk. pic.twitter.com/TzErBYXB6Z

— ITV News Central (@ITVCentral) June 8, 2025

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