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Wiltshire lamb born without wool
Wool
Skippy's lack of wool is not a common condition.

Farmer fashions coat out of old fleece jacket 

A farmer in Wiltshire has come up with a novel way to keep a lamb warm that was born without any wool.

Sally-Ann Fisher from Chilton Foliat fashioned a fleece jacket out of an old jumper to keep the lamb warm at night.

Eleven-day-old Skippy, so called because he resembles a kangaroo, was abandoned by his mother.

Ms Fisher and her partner are now hand-rearing the lamb at their farm near Ramsbury.

Ms Fisher told the BBC that they were not aware that Skippy’s lack of wool was a condition or health problem.

“He’s just unlucky, but he’s doing great,” she said.

But Hannah Park from the National Sheep Association said that the condition was not common.

“Some breeds with less wool might be susceptible but it is extremely unusual and not something we would see,” she said. 

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
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BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'