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Sheep and goat project heads to France
The workshop held in Saint Affique was attended by more than 70 reserachers, lecturers and farmers.

More than 70 delegates gathered in Saint Affrique to learn about the use of innovative on-farm technologies.

A multi-national project to bolster the uptake of digital technologies in sheep and goat farming has held its first in-person workshop in France.

The Sm@RT (Small Ruminant Technologies) project is being organised by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in collaboration with the Moredun Research Institute. Previously, two workshops had been held online, but this was the first time the event had taken place in a live setting. 

The workshop, held in Saint Affrique in July, was attended by more than 70 researchers, lecturers, farmers and advisors from seven different countries.

During the event, delegates visited two sheep farms where they could see and learn about the use of 14 small ruminant innovative technologies. Among them included virtual and connected fences, automatic feeders, individual feed bins and shed sensors for temperature, humidity and Co2. 

The second day saw the delegates share examples of the innovative technologies being used in their countries, such as water consumption in one trough, automatic weighing and a hay drying machine. 

“It was great to be able to see each other for the first time,” commented Claire Morgan-Davies, Sm@RT coordinator from SRUC. “The group dynamic was fantastic and the organisation by the French partners flawless. 

"It was nice to see delegates exchanging ideas and seeing for themselves the wide range of innovative technologies available to the sheep and goat sectors.” 

The next workshop is scheduled for Spring 2023 in Norway. 

Image (C) SRUC.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.