Earlier this month Labour MP Josh Newbury, CEO of the National Office of Animal Health Dawn Howard, and CE of the British Poultry Council Richard Griffiths spoke about the importance of ensuring the wellbeing of farm animals. There was a fringe session specifically to focus on how to build confidence and use animal medicines effectively. Crucially, there was emphasis on the key role of vaccination and preventing disease.

MP Comments

Newbury is the MP for Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. As a result, rural matters like farming and the impact on local communities are a familiar topic. He is also the chair of an all-party parliamentary group focusing on food security.

Newbury’s most important comment at the fringe session was to encourage the government to get a grasp on the issue of animal health. He said it is a topic that “hasn’t been given the attention it deserves”. However, we need to be more proactive to anticipate where the challenges are and how to overcome them.

NOAH comments

Dawn Howard emphasised NOAH’s stance. She said prevention should always be the priority, ensuring we have “animals who are well looked after”. Central to this is making sure people have access to vets and the relevant medicines to treat different conditions.

There are a number of important issues here. Crucially, there has been criticism that the veterinary medicine regulator does not have sufficient resources and funding. As a result, it causes delays with the approval of products, including vaccines, wormer, and more. There is a big problem with international medicine trade, making it trickier for farmers and vets to get the things they need.

The biggest call is for a UK-EU agreement specifically for veterinary medicines. Discussions are already underway for Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods, but it focuses mainly on the human side. So, it is important to give attention to medication for animals or we risk issues like shortages and declining animal health. There is already concern about supplies in Northern Ireland after January because EU rules will apply.

BPC stance

Richard Griffiths spoke specifically about how important health and the right medications are for poultry producers. It is one of the biggest farming industries in the UK, producing as many as 20 million chickens every week. As a result, it’s a major cornerstone of our food security and economy. He said the whole thing can sometimes rest on a few “specialist areas”, including health.

The takeaway

The most important thing we can take from the fringe conference and the input of the various stakeholders is healthier animals are the priority. It is better for society, the planet, the economy, and the wellbeing of animals themselves. Prevention first approaches should be the goal to tackle disease. This includes vaccination, effective diagnostics, and management.

Some excellent resources to improve animal health

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