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The article reports that two cases of Schmallenberg virus were confirmed in farms in south-east England and East Anglia. Veterinary experts said that the virus was the cause of deformed lamb born in Norfolk and Sussex. The virus can affect cattle, goats and sheep. It is believed that the virus was transferred to Great Britain through midges from continental Europe.

The article stresses the need for British farmers to be extra vigilant after the emergence of Schmallenberg virus that affects cattle, sheep and goats in northern Europe as of January 2012. Farmers were warned by veterinarians to have increased awareness of the clinical signs of the viral disease. Clinical symptoms of the disease reported in this region are cited. Brian Hosie of the Scottish Agricultural College advises farmers to seek information about the health history of the animal.

The article reports that many sheep farmers in Scotland are not aware about the exposure of a high number of flocks to orf virus in February 2011. Based on a study conducted by the Moredun Institute in Edinburgh, a high percentage of ewes in the country were tested positive with the virus. According to the Institute's executive Colin McInnes, researchers found it hard to look for ewes that had not been exposed to orf.

The article reports on the ScrapieCheck service offered by Innovis which costs £9 a sheep. According to Eurion Thomas of Innovis, the immense reduction in scrapie cases in Great Britain since the inception of the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) suggests the need for breeders to stick with scrapie genotyping to make sure scrapie is kept under control. He adds that there was only one reported scrapie case in Great Britain in 2008, in comparison with 568 in 2000.

The article reports on the efforts of farmers in south and east England to call for the expansion of the bluetongue protection zone to cover all of Great Britain. National Sheep Association chief executive Peter Morris explained that failure to expand the zone will mean farmers will be unable to sell prime animals or move sheep to winter grazing. Farmer of the Year 2006 awardee Robert Law of Hertfordshire, England thinks serious welfare problems may arise if farmers did not send animals in slaughter outside of the zone.

The article focuses on the effects of breeding for scrapie resistance according to the National Scrapie Plan strategy on lamb performance and on the ability of the flock to withstand future scrapie strains cited during the British Society of Animal Science conference held in Scotland. Blackface lambs carrying the VRQ allele took 10 days to finish than lambs with other genotypes. There were about 300 cases of atypical scrapie that have been identified in some European Union countries.

The article focuses on the Department of Health advisory issued to midwives wherein expectant mothers are to avoid lambs and ewes in an effort to avoid contracting infections from it in Great Britain. The possible infections that expectant mothers can get includes chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis, and listerosis that could endanger their and their unborn child's health. The terms and provisions of the advisory are discussed. Leaflets are provided by the agency.

Commends the decision of the Welsh Assembly to fund a scheme that offers practical help to Welsh producers to eradicate scrapie in breeding flocks of sheeps. Total number of ewes that could be inseminated through the scheme.

Reports on the conclusion of researchers from Central Vet Research Lab that the discovery of NOR98 strain of scrapie in Ireland could be more widespread than previously thought. Statement issued by scientist Hanne Onnasch on possible implications of NOR98 for the sheep population; Details of an evidence from the National Vet Institute in Oslo, Norway regarding sheep with allele; Factors that have led scientists to think that NOR98 was a spontaneous prion disease.

Announces a new artificial insemination (AI)-based initiative to help Welsh flocks eliminate scrapie launched by the Welsh Assembly in August 2004. Requirement for flocks to be able to participate in the scheme; Significance of the impact of sheep production on the economy of Wales to the introduction of the AI scheme; Advantages of the scheme for Welsh flocks.

Reports on the development of a semen archive containing the genetic heritage of the national sheep flock in Great Britain to reduce scrapie risk in the animals. Information on a consortium of artificial insemination providers that will provide service for the initiative; Alleles which have been already identified in rams; Purpose of establishing a stakeholders' board.

Reports on the quality of silage for livestock at the Gogarth farm in Wales as of August 2004 after delays caused by weather and mechanical problems. Yields of silage; Pregnancy diagnosis on suckler cows; Plan of the owners of the farm to use genotyping to eliminate sheep susceptible to scrapie.

Reports on the discovery of the unusual type of scrapie by scientists in a sheep in the Great Britain. Conclusion on the performed case analysis in sheep; Service to be provided under the Voluntary Scrapie Flocks Scheme; Compensation to be paid at adult ram, ewe and cull ewe.

Announces that enough scrapie resistant tups will be available in September 2004 according to Great Britain's Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) estimates. Comments from Duncan Pullar, MLC sheep and beef technical manager; Concerns of Blackface breeders over the National Scrapie Plan; Type of genotype used in the Blackface breeds.

Presents the results of a study of 15 scrapie-affected flocks by Sue Tongue, published in the "Vet Record." Level of scrapie resistant allele in affected flocks; Mean number of sheep carrying the VRQ allele.

Highlights the commitment shown by Great Britain's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on its National Scrapie Plan (NSP) launched in July 2001 to breed scrapie resistant sheep. Comments from John Thorley, National Sheep Association chief executive; Total number of sheeps genotyped in November 2003 under the NSP; Aim of the NSP deadline extension in 2002; Step taken by DEFRA in 2003 to address producers' fears about genotyping; Survey results on scrapie prevalence in flocks.

Announces the release of a bolus design and better application methods to address the problems of administrating the National Scrapie Plan boluses in Great Britain as of November 2003. Number of sheep that have died from bolus; Information on the administration problem; Change made to the bolus design.

Focuses on sheep tested for scrapie in Great Britain. Scrapie levels; Number of sheep that proved positive of a form of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Discusses a control measure implemented by the British government to deal with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in sheep. Ways to deal with sheep scrapie; Prevalence of scrapie in sheeps; Problems encountered in relation to TSE.

Focuses on the Welsh scheme offering free scrapie genotyping of young female sheep as of August 2003. Comment from Welsh Assembly minister for environment, planning and the countryside Carwyn Jones, on the scheme; Estimated number of sheep producers who applied to join the Welsh scheme.

Focuses on a study being conducted by Mike Dawson and colleagues at the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as of June 2003, indicating that sheep genotyped for the National Scrapie Plan have produced an abnormal genotype. Information on a normal sample of a sheep genotype; Overview of the results of the study.

Reports on the need for producers to use scrapie resistant sires to decrease the number of Dutch sheep infected with scrapie. Number of infected Dutch sheep in 2002 according to a survey conducted by the Dutch Animal Health Authority; Reluctance of British commercial flockmasters to buy scrapie resistant sires; Change in scrapie policy after the discovery of a mutation on the PrP genome.

Provides information on the European Union proposals for a community wide scheme which will force sheep flocks with confirmed cases of scrapie be destroyed as of December 6, 2002. Components of the scheme; Options given to producers; Requirements of the scheme.

Offers views on the European Union (EU) proposals to ensure Europe's sheep cannot develop transmissible spongiform encephalopathies as of December 6, 2002. Impact of the proposals on the industry; Criticism on the timescale applied by the EU.

Focuses on a survey on the distribution and incidence of scrapie in sheep which is being conducted by the Vet Lab Agency in Great Britain from October to November 2002. Background on the results of a 1998 survey; Goals for the survey.

Assesses the National Scrapie Plan launched by the government of Great Britain to protect sheep flock from scrapie. Number of rams which had been genotyped under the plan; Percentage of rams that are highly susceptible to scrapie.

Announces that Sir John Krebs, chairman of Great Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has managed to pre-empt an expected attack over statements on a theoretical link between scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Views of Krebs on the importance of transparency for restoring consumer confidence; Measures undertaken by the FSA sheep stakeholder group to address BSE risk.

Reports on a program launched by the French government to eliminate scrapie from the national sheep flock. Cost of the project; Plans for the implementation of the initiative.