Livestock Matters
The States Vet, David Chamberlain, periodically issues newsletters for local livestock keepers, covering topical and relevant subjects. Click here to go to the States web page that publishes these newsletters.
Issue One - Vet medicines
March 2013 - click here to see the issue, which has an update on the new abattoir building and an article on the use of animal medicines on farms and smallholdings, with reminders like;
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Issue Two - Keeping pigs
April 2013 - click here to see the issue, which has guidance on pig keeping, looking particularly at factors such as;
There are also some useful links to other relevant websites, and this excellent comprehensive guide from The Soil Association. |
Issue Three - Presentation of livestock for slaughter
July 2013 - click here to see the issue, which describes in detail the care that should be taken when presenting animals for slaughter; they must arrive in a clean and dry condition or they will not be accepted. There is also plenty of advice on good hygiene practice on your smallholding. Issue Four - Animal marking and identification
September 2013 - click here to see this issue, which provides comprehensive information on the new requirements to mark livestock with identification numbers; livestock keepers must now be registered with the Farm Services section of the Commerce and Employment Department and small livestock, i.e. pigs, sheep and goats, must in most circumstances be identifed with numbered tags. This issue also includes additional information for dairy farmers on Blue Tongue Virus surveillance and Bovine TB. February 2016 - Livestock News (Issue 1)
Click here to see this issue, reminding livestock keepers of obligations and any issues that may relate to them. This includes further details on the castration of livestock, the blue tongue virus vaccination, use of the slaughterhouse and information on the correct way to identify livestock for slaughter. October 2016 - Livestock News (Issue 3) Click here to see this issue of livestock news. This issue focuses on dairy farmers and Bovine farmers, identifying important details on milk sample testing, insemination, tagging and the rare disease Microphthalmos. |
Issue Three A - progress on the new slaughterhouse
August 2013 - click here to see the issue, which provides an update on the development of the new slaughterhouse, including the various hurdles that need to be jumped in order to meet the strict provisions on the production of meat for human consumption. Issue Five - Food chain information
January 2014 - click here to see this issue, which covers the livestock keeper's responsibility to prevent the contamination of food intended for human consumption. The issue highlights some areas such as providing the slaughterman with a Food Chain Information certificate, observation of withdrawal periods after the administration of vet medicines, and reducing/withdrawing feed prior to an animal's slaughter. May 2016 - Livestock News (Issue 2)
Click here to see this issue, focusing on updates for keepers of cattle, specifically dairy farmers. January 2017 - Livestock News (Issue 4) Find out more about winter welfare of cattle and disease surveillance at the abattoir. This newsletter also advises on cancellation charges at the slaughterhouse. Click here to read this issue. |