Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced the formation of a new group to deliver a more coordinated approach to tackling sheep and cattle health issues, following a positive response from the industry to proposals aired via an online consultation. The recruitment of a Chairman will now proceed with an intention to have the first meeting of the Ruminant Health and Welfare Group (RHWG) in April 2020.
The NFU has been members of the Steering Group which developed the concept of the RHWG before handing it over to AHDB to manage the industry consultation.
NFU President Minette Batters sent a letter supporting the concept of the group prior to the consultation. This letter was joined by supporting letters from NFU Cymru, Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), NFU Scotland (NFUS) and Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW). All UK levy bodies and the UK Chief Vets support the initiative.
NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts said:
“We face an unprecedented time of change and opportunity. Despite our industry being highly regulated, with world leading animal health and welfare standards, supported by a world class science and research community, we face ongoing challenges of improvements in productivity and continuing high levels of endemic disease.
“We support the formation of this new group which will deliver a more coordinated approach to tackling sheep and cattle health and welfare issues. It will be ideally placed to set a UK-wide ambition for the ruminant sector post-Brexit, prioritise our animal health status and help eliminate those non-notifiable diseases that limit farmers’ production potential, adding financial burden on individual farm businesses.
“The NFU also believes that a united farming industry voice will help strengthen the great story we have to tell about our livestock sector.”
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