NSA said it accepts that Britain’s uplands face many challenges but states that it is simply incorrect to blame sheep, or upland farming more broadly, as the root cause of environmental decline. 
 
Site condition in designated protected areas is influenced by a multitude of factors, and reducing grazing levels alone, a strategy driven by environmental schemes over the last 20 years, has not yielded the improvements of ecological recovery many expected.  

In fact, evidence shows that inadequate grazing, whether from sheep, cattle or ponies, has often allowed damaging encroachment by bracken, gorse and purple moor grass, degrading biodiversity and habitat quality. 
 
NSA said that The Guardian article paints a “one-dimensional picture” of the uplands as overgrazed and barren and questions that if they were indeed in such desperate condition, why do they remain as some of the most loved landscapes by the British public and those visiting the UK from overseas? 

‘Upland landscapes are multifunctional’

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Appropriate grazing at the right intensity and with the right species remains essential to managing and maintaining the mosaic of habitats valued by ecologists, land managers and local communities alike. 
 
“Upland landscapes are multifunctional. They are vital not just for biodiversity, but also for water retention, carbon storage, access, wellbeing, and food production. Upland farmers are already taking huge strides in developing creative, collaborative, and nature-friendly management approaches. The NSA is proud to support these efforts.” 
 
Mr Stocker added that the long-standing misconception that upland livestock farming is propped up by subsidies needs to be corrected. 
 
“Contrary to the implication in Mr Packham’s piece, sheep farming is not subsidised.

“In England, there has been no direct support for sheep production for some years. Farmers are rewarded for delivering environmental outcomes under schemes designed by Defra and Natural England. The idea that taxpayers are funding sheep to damage the landscape is simply false.” 
 
NSA is actively engaged in initiatives that support sustainable farming while delivering wider public benefits. This includes advocating for balanced land use policies that enable food production alongside climate and biodiversity goals. 
 
NSA said it believes that genuine progress will come not from polarised debate but from recognising the value of working with the farmers who live and work in these areas every day. It is only through inclusive and evidence-led land management that long-term, resilient solutions can be found. 

Read more livestock news. 

The post NSA responds to claims that sheep destroy Britain’s upland habitats appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Testing suggests Haemonchus contortus, or Barber’s pole worm, is becoming more prevalent in the UK as weather patterns change, vets have warned.

The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group said recent testing suggests an increase in cases of Haemonchus infection, with the parasite appearing further north.

Farmers are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with signs of infection and regularly check their sheep.

Vet Gina Rigby from Cross Counties Farm Vets in Northamptonshire, part of the VetPartners group, said:

“Historically, if we had very cold, harsh winters, a lot of the Haemonchus larvae would be killed off, but now we’re finding that they’re overwintering – both on pasture and in the ewes – which means we’re seeing infection earlier in the year than we were before.”

What are the symptoms? 

Haemonchus is different from other gastrointestinal worms and, as such, it causes different symptoms.

“Haemonchus is a blood-sucking worm which can cause anaemia, and unless a sheep has a mixed infection with other gastrointestinal worms, it doesn’t cause scour,” Gina adds.

“This means sheep farmers are often caught out by it because they’re not seeing the classic signs of worms, like mucky back-ends, on their sheep.”

Symptoms of infection depend on whether the sheep is suffering from acute, sub-acute, or chronic infection.

“Acute infection is caused by an animal ingesting a lot of infective larvae in a very short period of time, and the signs include sudden death, rapid breathing, and pale mucus membranes which can be seen by looking at the inside of the lower eyelid,” she explains.

“Sub-acute infection isn’t always as obvious, and often farmers get this confused with liver fluke, because it causes bottle jaw (swelling under the jaw), while chronic infection presents as more of a failure to thrive with weight loss, poor body condition, and lethargy – along with the signs of anaemia.”

READ MORE: Sheep farmers face grazing pressures due to hot and dry weather
READ MORE: Huw Jones breaks record after shearing 663 ewes in 8 hours

Monitoring for Haemonchus

To monitor for Haemonchus, Gina recommends looking out for clinical signs of infection, FAMACHA scoring, worm egg counting, and carrying out a post-mortem examination on any dead animals.

“FAMACHA scoring is a colour chart to compare with the colour of the membranes of the lower eyelid to assess for anaemia caused by Haemonchus; it’s relatively easy to do when you’re already running animals through the race for other reasons,” she adds.

“Worm egg counts are also useful to identify the presence of worms, however ‘in house’ counts can’t easily differentiate Haemonchus from other worm species, so if you suspect you’ve got a problem, you can send a sample off to the lab for worm species identification.”

If Haemonchus is identified, speak to your vet to discuss an appropriate treatment plan.

“Finding Haemonchus in a sample doesn’t necessarily mean clinical disease is present on your farm,” she adds.

“Speak to your vet about treatment – both in terms of product choice and which animals need it, or whether vaccination might be an option on your farm.”

Perfect storm for worms

A SCOPS update also warned that the combination of earlier dry conditions and recent rainfall could create a perfect storm for increased worm challenges on pasture.

Nerys Wright, technical adviser for SCOPS, urged farmers to be extra vigilant in monitoring parasite burdens and lamb performance, including carrying out regular faecal egg counts (FECs).

However, she stresses that FECs should be interpreted alongside lamb condition and performance. 

After a prolonged dry spell, large numbers of immature worms may be present and cause clinical disease before a high FEC is detected. 

This makes visual assessment and consideration of nutritional status equally important in decision-making.

Poor grass growth

The earlier dry weather also limited grass growth on many farms, adding nutritional stress to lambs. 

“A lamb’s immune system is closely linked to its nutritional status,” explains Nerys. “Lambs under nutritional stress are less able to withstand a parasite challenge.”

Rebecca Mearns, parasitology vet lead at the APHA, adds that while some areas are now seeing high FECs following the rain, others remain low – highlighting the importance of testing and monitoring rather than assuming worms are the cause of poor performance.

“It’s essential to consider other factors like grass quality and availability,” says Rebecca. “Not all poor performance is due to worms, and blanket treatments can do more harm than good in the long term.

Funded testing 

SCOPS is also reminding farmers in England to take advantage of the DEFRA-funded Worming Treatment Check (WTC) scheme, available through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway Review. 

In Scotland, a similar scheme supports farmers in preparing for sustainable farming, while Wales currently does not have a comparable programme.To benefit from funded testing, worm egg counts must be high enough to justify treatment. 

“The key message remains: check your FECs before undertaking the WTC to ensure the timing is right and the results are meaningful,” concludes Rebecca.

Read more sheep news.

The post Warning as parasite spreads due to changing weather appeared first on Farmers Guide.

In a letter sent to the chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), NSA has requested that earlier than usual grazing of land entered into the AB15 (two-year sown legume fallow) and AB18 (improved grassland fallow) be permitted.

A prolonged lack of rainfall has significantly reduced grass growth across many parts of the country, and as a result, sheep farmers are facing serious challenges in maintaining adequate forage for livestock.

Grazing availability is critically low, the potential for producing adequate winter forage stocks is limited, and movement constraints due to current bluetongue controls are also affecting forage availability.

NSA said it is concerned this could impact animal welfare and the future productivity of farm businesses if some flexibility is not introduced.

‘Pressing need’ during extreme weather

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “We would specifically request that the RPA consider allowing earlier-than-usual grazing on land entered into these two options that would usually provide valuable grazing in the late summer or autumn.

“Given the current circumstances, there is a pressing need to access these areas sooner than typically permitted under scheme rules. Such a derogation would help alleviate immediate forage pressures while still upholding the broader environmental aims of the scheme.”

Temporary adjustments to grazing restrictions have been granted in previous years during periods of extreme weather, and NSA believes this is a justified and proportionate response to current conditions that would allow farmers to plan accordingly and take necessary action to support their livestock whilst maintaining compliance with their schemes.

Read more livestock news.

The post Sheep farmers face grazing pressures due to hot and dry weather appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The project, which started in 2022, aimed to cut sheep flock lameness towards the 2% Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) target, while lowering antimicrobial use. 

It was a collaboration between Sainsbury’s, Dunbia and MSD Animal Health, and explored the benefit of vaccination against endemic diseases following the NOAH Category One Livestock Vaccination Guidelines.

It more than halved lameness levels across 10 Welsh sheep farms – saving an estimated £54,000 per year and slashing antibiotic use.

Five point plan

It involved just under 6,000 ewes across hill, upland and lowland systems. 

Over the project’s duration, average flock lameness fell from 6.3% to 2.7%, thanks to rigorous application of the Five Point Plan – treat, cull, avoid, quarantine, and vaccinate – and ongoing monitoring using MSD Animal Health’s sheep lameness control planner.

The plan provides a clear framework for tackling lameness and, when implemented properly, builds resilience, reduces infection pressure and improves immunity,” said Sonja van Dijk from the MSD Animal Health Market Access Team.

“All ten farms improved their lameness control scores by 94%, rising from 12 to 23 out of 25 – and that translated directly into healthier sheep and financial gains.”

Before the project began, lameness was estimated to be costing the 10 farms a collective £84,000 a year in lost productivity and medicine. By 2025, that had fallen to £30,000 – a £54,000 annual saving. 

The benefits of vaccination with Footvax also stood out. “Vaccination cost just £2.58* per ewe per year yet delivered savings of £11.42 per ewe per year – more than a fourfold return,” Ms van Dijk added.

This figure is based on three doses of vaccine in the first year (for replacement ewes) and one dose thereafter, and assumes a ewe replacement rate of 20% each year.

Transformative difference 

Gerwyn Evans and his family, who farm 950 Welsh and Welsh cross ewes plus 220 ewe lamb replacements on a 640-acre hill unit in Tregaron, Ceredigion, were involved in the project and saw lameness prevalence drop from 8.8% in 2022 to just 0.8% by the end of 2024.

“We’re delighted that lameness has fallen to such a manageable level, especially through some of the wettest weather we’ve ever had,” said Gerwyn.

“This has always been our biggest flock health challenge – and our daughters were spending hours catching and treating lame sheep. But being part of the project helped us really focus on the issue. The difference has been transformative.”

They are now much stricter on culling repeat offenders and quarantine all incoming rams for at least four weeks. Gerwyn added: “Vaccination has made a huge difference too – we started Footvax in 2023. It’s a no-brainer – vaccine is far cheaper than constant use of antibiotics, which we want to move away from anyway.”  

READ MORE: First minister faces backlash from Welsh farming community
READ MORE: Huw Jones breaks record after shearing 663 ewes in 8 hours

Wider value of being proactive

Leisia Tudor, agriculture manager at Dunbia, said the project demonstrates the wider value of tackling lameness proactively.

“When you see the impact the Five Point Plan has had, it’s clear this is about more than just treating lame sheep,” she said.

“The farmers who are part of this project are seeing fewer losses, spending less time on treatments, reducing their antibiotic usage, and improving overall efficiency – all of which contribute to a lower carbon footprint.

“This kind of proactive health management is one of the aspects that contributes towards sustainable livestock production, and we’re pleased to be supporting farmers on that journey.”

Read more sheep news.

The post Sheep farms halve lameness through project  appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Huw achieved a new eight-hour solo ewe shearing British record, beating the previous record held by Martin Howlett, who sheared 539 ewes.

The record took place at Hendreseifion, the location of another record achieved by local shearer Meirion Evans 12 months ago.

After months of preparation, the record attempt started at 7am and concluded at 5pm with hundreds of well-wishers in attendance to support and congratulate Huw.

After breaking the record, tired but delighted Huw said: “Today has been an amazing day. Thank you to everyone who has helped me achieve what I have here today.

“There are too many people to name individually, but you all know who you are. Records are not just about the shearer attempting but are very much a team effort.

“I could not have achieved this today without so many people. I thank you so much for the support you have given me.”

‘Grandad was the one who started me shearing’

Huw continued by mentioning the support of his family: “My family has always supported me to get me where I am today; no matter what I wanted to do, my family has always been there, and I thank them. It means so much.

“I’d like to mention my grandad, who is sadly no longer with us but hopefully looking down on me today; he was the one who started me shearing.”

Huw concluded by thanking everyone who had attended on the day to support him and the charities supported by the record, the Welsh Air Ambulance & Aberdyfi Search and Rescue.

Gareth Jones, head of member engagement at British Wool, said: “On behalf of British Wool we offer huge congratulations to Huw on his successful record attempt. This was a display of high-quality shearing, and Huw should be very proud of his achievements.

“We appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in holding a record and therefore offer congratulations to everyone who has helped and supported Huw in successfully setting a new British Shearing Record.”

READ MORE: Welsh farmer broke record after shearing 791 sheep in 9 hours 

READ MORE: Scottish shearer broke women’s sheep shearing world record 

Read more livestock news. 

The post Huw Jones breaks record after shearing 663 ewes in 8 hours appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Animal health and husbandry specialist Nettex explained that the aim of the survey is to build a clearer picture of how, when and why mineral supplements are being used on sheep farms — from mineral buckets to drenches and boluses — and whether those decisions are guided by testing, advice or routine. 

Sarah Gallimore, technical associate at Nettex, said that the company is keen to gather insights directly from farmers to better understand what mineral supplementation strategies they are using and the reasons behind those choices.  

“This information will help us — and the wider industry — offer more tailored, effective support and ensure the products available meet the real needs of farmers and their flocks,” she said.

Supporting immunity, growth, fertility and overall performance

The survey follows Irish research highlighting that over £2.5 million is spent annually on mineral supplements for sheep, with many decisions made without testing or expert guidance. While similar data does not yet exist in the UK, Nettex hopes this initiative will begin to change that. 

Ms Gallimore added: “We’re becoming increasingly aware of how important trace elements are — not just in preventing deficiencies, but in supporting immunity, growth, fertility and overall performance. 

“With rising pressure on farmers to improve efficiency and reduce medicine use, getting mineral nutrition right has never been more important.” 

The survey will take just a few minutes to complete, and is open to all UK sheep farmers, regardless of flock size or production system. The closing date is Sunday, August 31st 2025. 

All participants can opt to be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Amazon voucher. 

Take part in the survey and enter the prize draw here.

Read more livestock news. 

The post Survey launches to investigate mineral use   appeared first on Farmers Guide.

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.

The post Experts share top tips on how to protect cattle and sheep from heat stress appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The Sark Sheep Racing Festival, described as part of the island’s rural heritage, brings nearly 2,000 people to Sark to watch sheep race with teddy jockeys tied to their backs.

All the money raised during the event goes to a local trust which helps subsidise medical care on the island.

PETA has recently sent an “urgent” letter to the festival’s organising committee stating that the sheep did not “consent” to take part in the “confusing and stressful event”. The group claimed that organisers were “exploiting animals for entertainment”.

PETA vice president of vegan corporate projects, Dawn Carr, added: “There are plenty of fun and family-friendly rural activities without animals that can be celebrated. How about a potato and spoon race, a hobby horse jump competition, or a tractor tug of war.”

‘Vital’ rural tourism

In a statement, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said that PETA “routinely targets” agricultural events and shows involving livestock with “bizarre” demands.

“I can only assume it’s for attention and designed to cause a stir. The group, however, are best ignored.

“Sheep racing is a regular feature in many a show, enjoyed by families all over the UK. It should be allowed to continue, and I hope the annual Sark Sheep Race is a roaring success and raises lots of money for such an important local cause.”

While talking to Farmers Guide, Johnnie Furse, a spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance, added: “The Sark Sheep Racing Festival is a decades-long tradition that does fantastic work raising money for medical care on the island.

“It also helps draw thousands of visitors to the island, which only has a population of around 500. This sort of rural tourism is vital for small countryside communities and their economies.

“I wish every success to this year’s Sark Sheep Racing Festival, and would encourage anyone considering attending to go along and show their support.”

CA confirmed that last month, PETA called for a livestock parade at the Royal Highland Show to be scrapped and a statue to be erected in commemoration of the paraded animals. The organisation’s demands were rejected.

Read more rural news.

The post PETA activists call for Sark Sheep Racing Festival to be banned appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Warwickshire Rural Crime Team confirmed that in December 2024, two dogs attacked several sheep owned by two farmers from the Warwickshire region and one from a different force area.

A spokesperson for the rural team said: “Livestock worrying has a serious effect on farmers, who not only lose animals immediately, but may continue to suffer losses weeks or months later. Shock can cause complications with births, especially if ewes are in-lamb at the time of the incident.

“In this case, that’s exactly what happened. Several sheep from different farms were killed by the dogs, and the shock caused further damage and losses afterwards.

“Not only did this cost farmers valuable in-lamb ewes, but also time and money repairing fencing, removing the affected livestock, and more.”

The officers said that with help from the community, they were able to identify a suspect and carry out an investigation.

‘Keep dogs on leads’

The force said that the suspect made a “full and frank admission” and complied with a series of conditions, including full compensation of nearly £11,500 to the affected farmers and specific measures relating to the dogs.

“Please help us prevent future incidents. Keep dogs on leads near livestock. Together, we can protect our rural communities,” the officers concluded.

READ MORE: Lancashire: Man arrested following dog attack on sheep

Read more rural crime news.

The post Three farmers compensated over £11k following dogs attack on sheep appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Weather conditions such as these can disrupt the natural availability of key trace elements, with serious implications for lamb growth and immunity before and after weaning.

Sarah Gallimore, technical associate at livestock health and husbandry specialist Nettex, said:

“Cobalt and selenium play vital roles in post-weaning lamb health. Low levels can impact immune function and growth at a time when lambs are already under stress from weaning and potentially facing parasite challenges. 

“Identifying the issue and finding a suitable drench or bolus can help prevent disease and improve post weaning weight.”

Deficiencies on farm

Research from Teagasc reinforces this concern:

• 73% of surveyed sheep farms had cobalt-deficient herbage
• Only 11% had herbage with sufficient levels of selenium.

The same research showed cobalt supplementation significantly boosted lamb performance post-weaning, resulting in higher carcass weights.

Selenium is key to supporting immunity and preventing white muscle disease, while cobalt is vital for vitamin B12 synthesis in the rumen, which is a crucial factor in energy metabolism and liveweight gain. 

As cobalt cannot be stored in the body, a steady supply throughout the grazing season is essential.

What are the signs?

Sarah said: “Deficiencies often go unnoticed until lamb performance starts to decline. Weaning is a vulnerable period, and any nutritional shortfall can cause a growth check or increased susceptibility to disease.”

Typical signs of cobalt deficiency include poor growth, dull fleece, loss of appetite, runny eyes, and increased worm burdens due to reduced immunity.

Top tips

Sarah recommends forage analysis as a first step. “Testing forage gives farmers clarity on what’s lacking and allows them to supplement effectively – whether via drenches, boluses, free access or in-feed options. 

“It’s about ensuring lambs continue to thrive, not just survive, after weaning.

“When choosing a supplementation product, it’s also important to consider how long those animals are on the farm for and what is in the products.”

She suggests lambs that are leaving the farm, but need supplementation, can benefit from a Nettex’s Cobalt, Selenium and B12 drench. 

Alternatively, a micro-bolus such as Cob-I-sel 60 can be used to deliver iodine, selenium and multi-vitamins over 60 days.  

“With rapidly changing grass quality and increasing demands on youngstock, it’s important farmers understand the trace element situation on their farm and act now to safeguard lamb health and performance,” she said.

Read more sheep news.

The post Lamb health at risk after dry spring  appeared first on Farmers Guide.