Animal health & welfare
Forms and guidance covering animal health and welfare, including grant schemes
- Animal health
- Veterinary medicine
- Animal welfare
Animal health
Animal health 2006:
the report of the Chief Veterinary Officer (latest edition, available on this site)
Defra, 2007 A4 152pp, illus
PB12593 and the Executive Summary is PB12594 - Free
Previous editions are now out of print, and are now available only as pdf files at the above link.
TB in cattle
Bovine tuberculosis in badgers: twentieth report
This is the last report issued in this series. Further reports on TB
in badgers have been issued by the Independent Scientific Group on cattle
TB (see below).
PB3256 Free
Development
of vaccines for bovine tuberculosis: towards a sustainable policy to control
TB in cattle
Report of the Independent Scientific Group Vaccine Scoping Sub-Committee
(available on this site)
This report was presented to Defra Secretary of State the Rt Hon Margaret
Beckett MP in July 2003.
Defra, 2003 A4 108pp
PB9102 Free
TB in cattle: changes to testing and controls (autumn 2004) (available on this site)
Issued jointly by Defra, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly,
this booklet explains the changes to Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) testing
policy. New measures are being introduced to help improve the detection
of TB, so that action can be taken quickly to prevent the spread of the
disease.
Defra, 2004 A5 15pp, illus
PB10070 Free
TB in cattle: reducing the risk (available on this site)
Suggests disease control measures that farmers can take to reduce the
chances that their animals will go down with TB.
MAFF, 1999 A5 5pp
PB4516 Free
TB
in cattle: report of the independent auditor on the badger post mortem
procedures used in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial and Defra's response
(available on this site)
Defra 2004 A4 18pp
PB9702 Free
TB
in cattle: report of the second independent auditor on the humaneness
of dispatch procedures used in the randomised badger culling trial and
Defra's response (available on this site)
Defra, 2003 A4 16pp
PB8253 Free
An epidemiological investigation into bovine tuberculosis:
fourth report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
Defra, 2005 A4 132pp
PB10138 Free
Also available:
Third report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
[2000]
PB5801 Free
Also available:
Second report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB - December
1999
PB4870 Free
Codes of practice for the control of salmonella (COPCOS)
All the codes first published in 1989 have now been revised and reissued by MAFF, the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Welsh Office Agriculture Department.
The codes are available to download in pdf format at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/salmonella-cop.htm
Code of practice for the control of salmonella during the storage, handling and transport of raw materials intended for incorporation into, or direct use as, animal feedingstuffs
Drawn up in consultation with the United Kingdom Agricultural Supply
Trade Association (UKASTA), the NFU, the Farmers' Union of Wales, the
Seed Crushers' and Oil Processors' Association and the Grain and Feed
Trade Association.
Defra, revised February 2003 A5 15pp
PB2202 Free
Code of practice for the prevention of rodent infestations in poultry flocks
Rats and mice are commonly found in or around poultry units. They pose
a number of problems including a threat to salmonella control. Rodent
eradication and prevention of infestations should be included as part
of the unit and flock management.
Defra, amended 2003 A5 32pp
PB2630 Free
Code of practice for the prevention and control of salmonella in chickens reared for meat on farm
Issued by DEFRA and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department, and drawn up in consultation with the Welsh Assembly Government,
the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
the Food Standards Agency, the British Poultry Council, the British Veterinary
Poultry Association and the National Farmers' Union.
Defra, 2002 A5 30pp
PB7323 Free
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE): advisory notes for farmers
Notes to remind cattle farmers what to do if they think they have a BSE
suspect animal.
Defra, revised 2004 A5 17pp
PB9445 Free (English and Welsh language edition)
Biosecurity and preventing disease: peace of mind, a healthier flock and a more viable business (available on this site)
A booklet explaining what you can do to prevent your birds from becoming sick with diseases like avian influenza and Newcastle Disease.
Defra, 2005 A5 11pp
PB11380 Free
Brucellosis: a reminder for all cattle farmers (pdf file (20 KB), available on this site)
Leaflet reminding cattle farmers of the importance of early reporting
of bovine abortion or premature calving to their divisional Animal Health
Office to minimise the risk of brucellosis.
Defra, 2004 A5 2p
PB6066 Free
Exports of livestock and genetic material: some
questions answered
Defra, 2003 1/3rd A4 6pp
PB8500 Free
Farm health planning: working in partnership for healthy livestock
After many consultations with the livestock industry, the Animal
health and welfare strategy for GB was launched in June 2004. This
strategy includes the Positive
animal health action plan, which takes forward several initiatives
to promote the wider use of farm health planning. This folder contains
cards explaining Defra's work on farm health planning, the different partners
we are working with, and how you can contribute your views.
Defra, 2004 A5 Folder + 7 inserts
PB10361 Free
Foot and mouth disease: ageing of lesions (PDF 1.3 MB - NB large file)
A booklet containing a series of photographs of the lesions of foot and
mouth disease in livestock from the time of early appearance until regression
and healing. It is intended to serve as a handbook to assist veterinarians
in the field to estimate the age of lesions. (Originally published by
HMSO in 1986 as MAFF reference book 400.)
Defra, revised January 2005 A5 54pp, mainly illus
N.B. Out of print - only available as a pdf file on this site (see link above).
Golden rules for a healthy flock: advice on restocking sheep flocks
Purchasing replacements and mixing of sheep from several sources can
bring new disease onto the farm. Restocking provides an ideal opportunity
to exclude many of the diseases that affect sheep and therefore improve
the health, welfare and profitability of your flock. The purpose of these
advisory notes is to provide information on how to try to prevent buying
in infection into new flocks when restocking, whether you are purchasing
replacements or establishing a completely new flock fter losing animals
to FMD.
Defra, 2001 A5 12pp
PB6145 Free
Golden rules for a healthy herd: advice on restocking cattle herds
The re-stocking and replenishment of herds affected by the Foot and Mouth
Disease outbreak requires careful planning. Unplanned re-stocking risks
introducing a number of economically important and distressing diseases,
which will put at risk the investment in new stock and those on neighbouring
farms. The purpose of this leaflet is to remind farmers of the risks and
the ways in which those risks can be managed. A structured approach involving
your veterinary surgeon is recommended.
Defra, 2001 A5 12pp
PB5967 Free
Guide to the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 2007 and National Control Programme for salmonella in bredding flocks
The Order replaces
the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries
Order 1993, and sets out among other things the requirements for registration and sampling in the National Control Programme for breeding flocks..
Defra, 2007
A5 17pp
PB12382 Free
Horse passports: what does this mean for you?
Defra, updated March 2004 A5 2pp
PB9254 Free
Johne's disease in dairy herds (available on this site)
Guidance on control of Johne’s disease in dairy herds
Johne‘s disease is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants, closely related to the organism that causes tuberculosis. Affected animals eventually and inevitably die. In dairy herds, the presence of Johne’s disease will significantly reduce milk yields well before other signs of the disease can be found. Although not a notifiable disease in Great Britain, Johne’s disease is notifiable in Northern Ireland. This guidance is issued by Defra, the Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency, the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD), the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARDNI).
Defra, 2004 A4 12pp
PB9990 (also available in Welsh PB9990W) Free
Introductory leaflet for farmers on Johne’s disease in dairy herds
Defra, 2004 A5 4pp
PB9989 (also available in Welsh PB9989W) Free
Return
of expenditure incurred and prosecutions taken under the Animal Health
Act 1981, and incidences of disease in imported animals for the year 2001
(available on this site)
Defra, 2002 A4 7pp
PB6728 Free
Scrapie: advisory notes for farmers
This booklet tells you what signs to look out for in your sheep and goats,
and what to do if you think they may have scrapie.
Defra, revised 2004 A5 20pp
PB9446 (previously PB4709) Free
Welsh/English language version PB9446W Free
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee: transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies: a summary of present knowledge and research
HMSO, 1994 A4 99pp
ISBN 0112429874 £35.00
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in Great Britain 2005 - a progress report (available on this site)
This report (previous title BSE progress report, a six-monthly
report) provides information about progress made towards eradicating transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in Great Britain in 2005 and the measures
taken to protect public and animal health. The report is divided into 12 sections. Topics covered include: roles of key departments in TSE controls, role of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), summary of BSE situation and BSE controls in 2005, trends and research on variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD), work on eradicating sheep and goat TSEs and
details of the extensive TSE research programme.
Defra, 2006 A4 77pp
PB12065 Free
Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) Working Group
on Feline and Canine Vaccination
Final report to the VPC
The Working Group was set up by the VPC in response to current concern
in both the public domain and in the scientific community about possible
health risks related to the routine vaccination of cats and dogs. It concluded
that, although adverse reactions to vaccination, including lack of efficacy,
occasionally occur, the overall risk/benefit analysis strongly supports
the continued use of vaccination, which plays a very valuable role in
the prevention and control of the major infectious diseases in cats and
dogs.
Defra, 2002 A4 99pp, figures
PB6432 Free
Zoonoses
UK Zoonoses reports - available on this site
Zoonoses report United Kingdom 2004
This report gives an overview of zoonoses in the UK in 2004. It has been
issued by Defra, the Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency,
the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD),
the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Department of Agriculture & Rural
Development Northern Ireland (DARDNI).
Defra, 2005 A4 80pp, figures
PB10814 Free
Veterinary medicine
Government Veterinary Journal (formerly known as State Veterinary Journal)
The Government Veterinary Journal is an official journal of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is the UK journal specialising in state veterinary medicine. It covers disease control, animal welfare, and public health and consumer protection and is distributed internally, externally and worldwide. It has been renamed to the Government Veterinary Journal (GVJ) to more accurately reflect that it is aimed principally at veterinary surgeons working in or alongside all Government Departments
The GVJ is published twice yearly, scheduled for June and December. As a result of the outbreaks of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Foot and Mouth Disease in GB in 2000 and 2001 respectively, only one edition, the CSF Special Edition was published in 2001. A further special edition, covering the FMD outbreak, was published in 2002 followed by the December 2002 edition.
All issues of the SVJ and GVJ since Vol 11, 2001 are available on this site at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/gvj/default.htm
Animal welfare
N.B. The text of some animal welfare publications can be found on the animal welfare pages of this site.
Farm
fires: protecting farm animal welfare (available on this site)
Defra, revised 2004 A5 9pp
PB9326 Free
Heat stress in poultry: solving the problem
Defra, 2005 A5 23pp
PB10543 Free
Improving calf survival
Defra, revised June 2003 A5 22pp
PB3335 Free
Codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock
These codes, which have the approval of Parliament, take account of five basic needs: (1) freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition; (2) appropriate comfort and shelter; (3) the prevention, or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation; (4) freedom from fear; (5) freedom to display most normal patterns of behaviour. Good stockmanship is a key factor in farm animal welfare, and these codes are essential reading for every stockman, since failure to observe their provisions might be relied upon by the prosecution as tending to establish guilt in any proceedings brought under Section1 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.
Cattle
Defra, 2003 A4 39pp
PB7949 Free
Meat chickens and breeding chickens
Defra, 2002 A4 25pp
PB7275 Free
Pigs
Defra, 2003 A4 35pp
PB7950 Free
Sheep
Defra, revised reprint August 2003 A4 26pp
PB5162 Free
Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) publications
The Farm Animal Welfare Council is an independent advisory body which was established by the Government in 1979. Its terms of reference are "to keep under review the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter, and to advise the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales of any legislative or other changes that may be necessary".
The Council can:
- investigate any topic falling within its remit
- communicate freely with outside bodies, the European Commission and
the public
- publish its advice independently.
The following publications are currently available, free of charge, from FAWC Secretariat, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ Tel. 020 7904 6534; Fax 020 7904 6533. Some of them are also available on the FAWC website.
Advice to Agriculture Ministers on transportation of unfit animals (1988)
Advice to the Agriculture Ministers of Great Britain on the need to control certain mutilations on farm animals (1981)
Assessment of egg production systems (1986)
Assessment of pig production systems (1988)
Interim report on the animal welfare implications
of Farm Assurance Schemes
DEFRA, 2001 A4 45pp
PB5797 Free
Report on the animal welfare implications of harvesting of deer antlers in velvet (1980)
Report on the priorities in animal welfare research and development (1988)
Report on the welfare of farmed animals at slaughter
or killing. Part 1: red meat animals
Defra, 2003 A4 72pp
PB8347 Free
Report on the welfare of farmed deer (1985)
Report on the welfare of farmed fish
MAFF, 1996 A4 52pp
PB2765 Free
Report on the welfare of laying hens
MAFF, 1997 A4 40pp
PB3221 Free
Report on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems
MAFF, 1991 A4 44pp
PB0734 Free
Report on the welfare of livestock at markets (1986)
Report on the welfare of pigs kept outdoors
MAFF, 1996 A4 38pp
PB2608 Free
Report on the welfare of poultry at the time of slaughter (1982)
Report on the welfare of sheep
MAFF, 1994 A4 40pp
PB1755 Free
Report on the welfare of turkeys
MAFF, 1995 A4 42pp
PB2033 Free
Page last modified 15 April 2008