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More must be done to prevent injury, says IOSH
cattle vet
The agriculture industry has one of the highest fatality rates in the UK.

Cattle vets urged to learn about animal psychology

Farm vets should not be complacent about injuries sustained in the course of their work, says Lysan Eppink, honorary secretary for the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).

Speaking at an event hosted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), she said: "Us vets have got to change our attitude that it’s ok to be a little bit damaged – it’s not ok, and we need to make sure animals are handled safely to avoid injury."

Experts attending the event in York urged vets and farmers to learn about animal psychology to help ensure safety while treating or handling cattle.

The agriculture industry has one of the highest fatality rates in the UK. Of the 133 workers killed in the UK between 2013 and 2014, 27 were employed in the agriculture industry. Seven workers were killed after coming into contact with cattle. Many other people suffered injuries.

Lysan said: "We tend to be the nasty people that stick needles in or do things which are an unfamiliar management or handling situation for the animals, so we do get accidents.

"We are putting ourselves daily at risk and we have to manage it instead of going in gung-ho."

IOSH believes more should be done to improve safety in the agriculture industry. Key to this is educating vets and farmers about safe ways to work. Improving understanding of animal behaviour among handlers, farm advisors and equipment manufacturers may also result in the design of safer facilities.

Gwyn Barlow, member of IOSH's Rural Industries Group and chair of the event, said: "How we interact with the animals has changed over the years and by implication the way the animals behave and react, whether that’s with staff on the farm, a vet or walkers on a footpath, has also changed.

"We hope this event has provided more of an understanding of animal psychology and how to ensure they have good handling facilities in line with current guidance. Hopefully this promotion of best-practice will generate further good practice and improve safety within the industry."

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.