Defra-funded vet visits are set to be rolled out more widely as the next stage of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
The Annual Health and Welfare Review is a funded annual visit available to livestock producers from their chosen vet or team of vets. Since last September, Defra has been testing these vet visits with volunteer vets and farmers.
In a new blog on the Defra website, Stewart Houston, chair of the Pig Pathway and Welfare Pathway Group said:
โThe feedback weโve had from those whoโve taken part in the testing is really encouraging. They commented on how straightforward it was to sign up, the effectiveness of the visit and the promptness of the payments.
โWe really encourage you to consider the offer. Itโs an opportunity to boost your profitability and prevent you from losing money through endemic disease and conditions such as lameness.โ
โThe review can be undertaken whenever it works for you. It will allow you and your vet to concentrate on your animalsโ specific health and welfare priorities.โ
During the visit, the vet will provide with bespoke advice and also carry out some diagnostic testing around endemic diseases โ in the case of pigs, this is for PRRS.
Signing up
The first step is to register your interest on GOV.UK. However, initially, only BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) eligible farmers will be able to register.
โRegistering your interest is simple. It will take about 5 minutes,โ Mr Houston added. โYou must register your interest before you can apply for a review. This is so we can manage the process and make sure you get a good service.
โWhen weโve checked that youโre eligible youโll receive an email inviting you to apply. This includes a link to the guidance.โ
The official guidance on eligibility can be found on GOV.UK.
If you are a vet and want to know more about your role in the review, weโve published guidance for vets on GOV.UK.
Defra has also produced a video guide on how to apply for a review.
The payment rates, which will include the cost of the vetโs time and the diagnostic testing have been agreed at:
- ยฃ684 for pigs
- ยฃ436 for sheep
- ยฃ522 for beef cattle
- ยฃ372 for dairy cattle
Future steps
Mr Houston added: โAs soon as we have tested the service and it is ready to be made available to more farmers, we will gradually, step by step, open the program up to non-BPS registered farmers, large and small.
โThis will allow you to include other farm livestock in your care and make a direct application instead of registering your interest first.
โWeโll learn lessons from the initial roll out and reflect what we learn in improvements to the service as we go. This really is a great opportunity to make a difference to the health and welfare of the animals in your care.โ