02/12/2025 African swine fever, Bluetongue, Ethical dairy

02/12/2025 14 min

Listen "02/12/2025 African swine fever, Bluetongue, Ethical dairy"

Episode Synopsis

The UK has temporarily banned all imports of pig products from Spain afrer an outbreak of African Swine Fever in wild boars there. It's their first case since 1994. The disease is spread by ticks and can be devastating to commercial herds. The National Pig Association here says it's vital our government puts adequate controls at borders to keep the disease out.
Northern Ireland has had its first case of bluetongue, in County Down. The government has introduced a 20km restriction zone to control the spread. There have been around 200 cases in England and Wales this year, though none in Scotland.
A farmer is calling on the Scottish Government to fund a multi-million pound dairy development programme, which would encourage farmers to keep cows with their newborn calves for longer. David Finlay has been pioneering the unconventional system on his farm near Kirkcudbright - which is now the largest commercial 'cow-with-calf' dairy in Europe.
And all this week we're looking at the jobs farmers need to do over winter - today, cleaning up ready for next season.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

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