Liver Fluke (Fasciolosis) is a disease caused by the flatworm Fasciola hepatica. It affects a wide range of animals, including sheep and cattle, and although human infection is very rare in the UK, it can occur. The disease is estimated to cost the UK livestock industry around £300 million every year due to liver condemnations, animal deaths, and reduced productivity.

Mastitis remains one of the most expensive diseases in dairy cattle, typically costing £250–£300 per case. E. coli mastitis has been shown to reduce milk production by around 15%, equating to approximately 200 litres per cow per lactation! Clinical signs range from mild changes in milk to rapidly developing toxic mastitis, which all too often can result in death.

After a period of extensive reporting and planning, Oakhill had its second ‘Sustainability Audit’, and we are proud to announce that we achieved Green Level accreditation with an impressive score of 77%, skipping the Gold Level entirely!

Resistance to commonly used wormers in sheep has been reported since the 1980s but more recently resistant worms have been found on up to 100% of farms. Therefore, it is increasingly important to change how we use wormers to avoid selecting for resistance and to ensure that we continue to have these tools for the future.

With turnout time upon us it is a good time to have a look at your cow tracks and ensure that they are in good repair to benefit both you and your cows.

Clostridia are a group of bacteria that are commonly found in soil and in the digestive tracts of animals. They can produce toxins that cause a variety of diseases in farmed animals, and which can lead to sudden death in many cases. However, vaccines are available which provide protection against the toxins.