Latest news with #HarperAdamsUniversity
Western Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Four in five dairy farms battling cryptosporidiosis
A study conducted at Harper Adams University found that 84% of surveyed farmers had dealt with cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, with nearly 60% rating the severity as 7 or higher, with 10 being the most severe. The survey of 63 farmers from across the UK in spring 2024 highlighted financial losses ranging from £300 to £30,000, with 68% of respondents citing financial strain due to increased vet bills, extended rearing times, and lower sale values. Almost three-quarters (70%) of respondents said affected calves were less profitable, with poor growth rates being the most common reason. This mirrors other UK studies, which show that calves infected within the first 16 days of life gained significantly less weight over six months, leading to a potential £161 reduction in sale price per calf . Additional costs include increased labour for managing sick calves. Cryptosporidiosis occurs when calves ingest the parasitic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), which produces vast numbers of encysted eggs (oocysts) shed in the faeces of infected animals. Calves between five days and two weeks of age are most affected, with symptoms including colic (gut pain), reduced feed intake, watery scour, and dehydration. The latest study was prompted by BSc Animal Production Science graduate Alice Powell, now a Ruminant Sales Specialist at Massey Feeds—a company offering specialist feed and milk products to support calf health—after witnessing the devastating effects of C. parvum first-hand. 'On one of the farms I worked at, there were a lot of calf deaths due to C. parvum, and the calves were severely dehydrated. You could just smell it in the sheds. After testing, they found they had C. parvum, so they became very strict about cleaning, disinfecting, and colostrum management.' Ms Powell says the farm even invested in new calf accommodation with non-permeable surfaces that were easier to clean and disinfect. Her study revealed gaps in biosecurity and prevention. Some of the measures ranked as most important also had a high number of farmers stating they were not important. For example, 28 farmers considered thorough cleaning of feeding equipment very important, while 18 disagreed, stating it was not important. However, four in five farmers reported cleaning and disinfecting after an outbreak. More than half of respondents were using preventive measures, with cleaning equipment, good colostrum management, and correct calving protocols ranked as the most effective. One issue raised was that many farmers were either using the wrong disinfectant or unaware that only certain disinfectants are effective against cryptosporidiosis. Having the correct electrolyte protocol is also crucial. Some farmers mentioned adding electrolytes to milk, but this can affect the osmolality in the calf's digestive system, leading to dehydration rather than rehydration. Electrolytes must be provided separately from milk feeds,' she said. Dr Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health highlights the multifactorial nature of managing infectious calf scour, adding: 'No single solution exists, but good biosecurity, vaccination, nutrition, and hygiene help minimise disease problems.' Demand for new vaccine The research also gauged awareness of Bovilis Cryptium®, the first-ever vaccine for cryptosporidiosis. At the time of the survey, it was not yet available in the UK, having only been launched in late 2024. However, 81% of respondents who were aware of it said they would use it if it became available. Farmers cited better calf welfare, reduced mortality, and improved productivity as key reasons for wanting access to the vaccine. Administered to pregnant cows in the third trimester, the vaccine requires two doses given 4–5 weeks apart, with the final dose completed at least three weeks before calving. For subsequent pregnancies, a single booster dose is required. The vaccine can also be administered alongside Bovilis® Rotavec® Corona, which protects against rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli K99. 'By vaccinating cows in late pregnancy, antibodies against C. parvum are raised in colostrum, reducing clinical signs of disease in newborn calves. Calves should receive at least three litres of colostrum within six hours of birth and all calves should be fed colostrum and transition milk during the first five days of life. "Calves gain protection against these pathogens by drinking the fortified colostrum from their vaccinated mothers,' explained Dr Baxter-Smith. 'When used alongside excellent colostrum management and strict hygiene, vaccination can significantly improve calf health and farm efficiency,' she added. Farmers interested in further information should contact their local veterinary professional.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- BBC News
Criminologist seeks views on rural policing in Shropshire
A criminologist is investigating people's experiences of rural Kreseda Smith from Harper Adams University in Shropshire said she wanted to find out how the public felt about the support they received based on their interactions with the police and the wider criminal justice said she hoped the findings could "help shape decision makers' thoughts" in the future.A series of focus groups have been arranged to hear people's stories, with the latest due to be held on the university campus on Tuesday between 14:30 and 16:00. More focus groups are planned at Stoke Lacy Village Hall in Herefordshire on 9 June and at NFU Mutual in Redditch on 7 Smith is the director of the Rural Resilience Research Group at Harper Adams, which examines emerging risks to food chain resilience, such as rural who are interested in attending the groups have been asked to contact Dr Smith at the university to register their interest. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Herdwatch opens global headquarters in Roscrea
The new state-of-the-art global headquarters of Irish agritech company Herdwatch has officially opened today. The livestock management software platform is used on over 20,000 farms and ranches around the world. The company has teams across Ireland, the UK, Canada, and Ukraine. The new HQ is in the heart of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, where the company was founded in 2012 by Fabien Peyaud and the FRS Co-op. The 4,000 sq ftspace is located within the new multi-million Roscrea Enterprise and Community Hub , and is focused on innovation, featuring collaborative spaces designed to support software development and customer success. Herdwatch now employs almost 100 people with almost half of these roles based in Roscrea, and recently expanded with a second office close to Harper Adams University in Shropshire, an agricultural university. Herdwatch has been digitalising farms and ranches, enabling smarter, more efficient operations by simplifying record-keeping, compliance, and productivity, empowering farmers to track livestock, manage breeding, and optimise herd health. The new office was officially opened Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke who praised Herdwatch's impressive growth and its commitment to digital innovation within the agricultural sector. "The Herdwatch innovation is critical to the future of the agriculture sector, as it can help reduce costs on farm enterprises, create efficiencies, support decision making, all the while improving outcomes in a sustainable manner. Herdwatch is also a key local employer that is committed to Roscrea community, and I would like to congratulate Fabien and all the Herdwatch team on their growth and success and wish them luck in this exciting new phase of their journey." Fabien Peyaud, Herdwatch CEO said: "We're incredibly proud of our roots here in Roscrea. What began as a local innovation has grown into a global platform, and we are thrilled to continue our journey from our new home in the heart of the community that first believed in us."
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
4 out of 5 UK dairy farmers had cryptosporidiosis in herds
Four in five dairy farmers in the UK have experienced cryptosporidiosis in their herds, with significant financial and welfare implications, according to new research. A study conducted at Harper Adams University found that 84% of surveyed farmers had dealt with cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, with nearly 60% rating the severity as seven or higher, with 10 being the most severe. The survey of 63 farmers from across the UK in spring 2024 highlighted financial losses ranging from £300 to £30,000, with 68% of respondents citing financial strain due to increased vet bills, extended rearing times, and lower sale values. Almost three-quarters (70%) of respondents said affected calves were less profitable, with poor growth rates being the most common reason. This mirrors other UK studies, which show that calves infected within the first 16 days of life gained significantly less weight over six months, leading to a potential £161 reduction in sale price per calf. Additional costs include increased labour for managing sick calves. Cryptosporidiosis Cryptosporidiosis occurs when calves ingest the parasitic protozoan cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), which produces vast numbers of encysted eggs (oocysts) shed in the faeces of infected animals. Calves between five days and two weeks-of-age are most affected, with symptoms including colic (gut pain), reduced feed intake, watery scour, and dehydration. The latest study was prompted by BSc animal production science graduate, Alice Powell of Massey Feeds, after witnessing the devastating effects of C. parvum firsthand. 'On one of the farms I worked at, there were a lot of calf deaths due to C. parvum, and the calves were severely dehydrated,' she explained. 'You could just smell it in the sheds. After testing, they found they had C. parvum, so they became very strict about cleaning, disinfecting, and colostrum management.' Powell said the farm even invested in new calf accommodation with non-permeable surfaces that were easier to clean and disinfect. Her study revealed gaps in biosecurity and prevention. Some of the measures ranked as most important also had a high number of farmers stating they were not important. E.g., 28 farmers considered thorough cleaning of feeding equipment very important, while 18 disagreed, stating it was not important. However, four in five farmers reported cleaning and disinfecting after an outbreak. More than half of respondents were using preventive measures, with cleaning equipment, good colostrum management, and correct calving protocols ranked as the most effective. One issue raised was that many farmers were either using the wrong disinfectant or unaware that only certain disinfectants are effective against cryptosporidiosis. 'Having the correct electrolyte protocol is also crucial. Some farmers mentioned adding electrolytes to milk, but this can affect the osmolality in the calf's digestive system, leading to dehydration rather than rehydration. Electrolytes must be provided separately from milk feeds,' Powell added. The research also gauged awareness of Bovilis Cryptium, the first-ever vaccine for cryptosporidiosis. At the time of the survey, it was not yet available in the UK, having only been launched in late 2024. However, 81% of respondents who were aware of it said they would use it if it became available. Administered to pregnant cows in the third trimester, the vaccine requires two doses given 4–5 weeks apart, with the final dose completed at least three weeks before calving. For subsequent pregnancies, a single booster dose is required. Dr. Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health said: 'When used alongside excellent colostrum management and strict hygiene, vaccination can significantly improve calf health and farm efficiency.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When The Pandemic Came, Zoos Closed, And The Animals Started to Act Differently
We all had to make adjustments as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded – even zoo animals who were suddenly not seeing crowds of visitors pass by every single day. In a study published in 2022, researchers discovered how primates reacted to that shift, looking at the behavior of bonobos, chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, and olive baboons, and finding that the animals changed their habits in a variety of ways, including the amount of time they spent resting and eating. Visitor interactions are thought to be crucial to the welfare of zoo animals. Yet these interactions have the potential to be either positive or negative. So the researchers were keen to see the difference when the crowds weren't there. "Primates are some of the most cognitively advanced species in zoos and their interactions with visitors are complex," zoo animal welfare scientist Samantha Ward from Nottingham Trent University in the UK explained at the time. "A limitation to understanding how visitors can affect behavior of animals in zoos and parks is that they rarely close to the public for prolonged periods, so this provided us with a unique opportunity." Observations were recorded at Twycross Zoo and Knowsley Safari in the UK, both before and after visitors returned. Over several months and multiple open and closure periods, there were noticeable changes in primate behavior, which varied depending on the animal. As visitors began to return to the zoo, the bonobos and gorillas spent less time alone, while the gorillas also spent less time resting. Chimpanzees, meanwhile, were eating more and engaging with their enclosures more when zoos reopened. The olive baboons in the safari park were seen to engage in less sexual and dominance behavior when the visitors came back. They also tended to approach visitor cars more often, compared with the ranger vehicles they saw when the park was closed. Whether or not these changes were positive is more difficult to say. The researchers suggest that the returning visitors seemed to stimulate the chimpanzees and baboons, while gorillas and bonobos spending less time alone could also be viewed as positive. At the same time, it could be argued that gorillas – naturally more sedentary animals – were disrupted by the crowds in that they spent less time resting. That the gorillas changed the parts of their enclosures they spent the most time in when visitors came back suggests that the animals can to some extent manage this disruption. "Behavioral changes and changes in enclosure use in the presence of visitors highlights the adaptability of zoo species to their environments," said zoo animal welfare researcher Ellen Williams from Harper Adams University in the UK. "Provision of environments which enable animals to actively adapt in this manner is really important for their welfare." The team also observed that there was a visitor number threshold when it came to olive baboons, beyond which the animals stopped becoming increasingly active and stimulated by the passing cars in the safari park. This is all valuable data for animal welfare researchers, who know that visitors can have all kinds of effects on wildlife – from adding feelings of companionship and safety, to being sources of annoyance or even threats. This needs to be factored into how zoos and parks are run and designed. While there might not be any more lockdowns in the foreseeable future (hopefully), the research team wants to continue the work of studying how visitor numbers affect animal behavior, including collecting data involving more animals and across a longer time scale. "Future work could involve looking at the impact on a wider range of species in both zoos and safari parks as well as differences among individual animals," said Williams. The research was published in Animals. An earlier version of this article was published in September 2022. Largest Single Flood May Have Filled Mediterranean 5 Million Years Ago Life Deep Beneath The Soil Dominated by Mysterious New Phylum of Bacteria This Fungus Contains The Most Bitter Substance Known to Humankind
