News.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a consultation on a series of proposed measures aimed at improving livestock health, welfare and disease control across England.

The proposals could introduce a number of mandatory requirements for livestock farmers, including:

- Compulsory annual veterinary visits for most cattle, sheep and pig farms.

- A mandatory flock health plan for sheep farms, developed with a vet and including parasite control planning.

- A national eradication programme for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle.

- A long-term control and eradication programme for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in pigs.

DEFRA is inviting farmers, vets and others working in the livestock sector to share their views on how these proposals might work in practice, including the potential costs, benefits and practical implications for farms.

The consultation is open until 18 May 2026.

You can read more about the proposals and submit your response here:
‍https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/09/have-your-say-on-mandatory-animal-health-and-welfare-proposals/

Image courtesy of the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS).

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with the Farm Cornwall team.

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