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International horse charity releases shocking evidence
horse travel
With no water available during their journey, the horses were dehydrated and eager to drink as soon as they could.

Transportation times and conditions revealed in account

World Horse Welfare has released an account detailing prolonged journey times and poor conditions for horses travelling to slaughter. The charity released video footage to show the impact of long-distance journeys on horses’ physical and mental state.

Using a 1,400 mile journey from Poland to Italy as an example, in 60 hours of travels, horses were only given one rest stop. The charity monitored the condition of the animals during the process and cited dehydration, withdrawal and deformed feet.  The animals were required to spend up to 24 hours travelling at one time.

Field officer Tony Evans said: “Stallions had been tethered at the rest stop next to mares, with young foals mixed in. With no water available during their journey, the horses were dehydrated and eager to drink as soon as they could. The horses were quiet, withdrawn and tense. It was a heartbreaking sight for anyone to see.”

In an ongoing campaign about transportation conditions, World Horse Welfare continues to gather evidence which will be detailed in a report to the European Commission addressing the current laws surrounding horse transportation.

Since the campaign began, partitions in transportation lorries have been improved to reduce injury and death.  The overall transportation figures have also dropped from 165,000 in 2001 to 54,000 in 2012.

Image © World Horse Welfare
 

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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.