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APHA’s Centre of Expertise in Extensively Managed Livestock
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About the Centre of Expertise
The Centre of Expertise for surveillance in extensively managed livestock (CoEEML) is based at APHA Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC). Whilst based in Wales, the Centre is a Great Britain-wide resource and forms part of the wider veterinary surveillance system operated by APHA.
What are extensively managed livestock?
Extensively-managed animals are those that are kept in such a way that they are not easily regularly and closely inspected, for signs of ill health, or significantly altered production.
The definition was determined at a meeting of APHA, Defra and Welsh Government, with extensively managed cattle and sheep being the primary focus. Examples of extensively managed livestock include animals that are kept on common land, uplands, mountains or moors.
Aims of the Centre of Expertise
The aims of the Centre of Expertise are to:
- Develop engagement with keepers of extensively managed livestock in order to promote disease surveillance activities and improve collection of surveillance data and information on extensively managed livestock
- Develop communication and information sharing with farmers and vets, to promote healthy livestock, productivity and sustainable farming in extensive systems
- Develop a virtual hub of expertise in surveillance in extensively managed livestock to complement the Species Expert Groups
Contact the Centre
For further information please contact your local Veterinary Investigation Centre and speak to the CoEEML representative vet within the centre:
| Centre | Contact name | Contact number |
|---|---|---|
| Carmarthen | Caroline Fenemore and Kitty Robinson | 03000 600016 |
| Shrewsbury | Suzi Bell | 03000 600023 |
| Starcross | Harriet McFadzean | 03000 600020 |
| Thirsk | Alan Murphy | 03000 600098 |
Joint leads of the CoEEML Kitty Robinson (L) and Caroline Fenemore (R).
Current Projects
Free sheep scab testing is now available in Wales all year round
Examination of skin scrape samples from sheep on Welsh farms showing suspect clinical signs of sheep scab is now being offered free of charge all year round.
The scheme, supported by Welsh Government, will encourage the diagnosis of sheep scab, which is a prerequisite for the appropriate treatment and successful control of this disease.
Skin scrape samples will be received in the normal way, via a veterinary surgeon and should be posted direct to APHA Carmarthen VIC, where testing will be undertaken. An epidemiological questionnaire is no longer required to be completed to qualify for free testing, however please ensure samples are accompanied by a fully completed submission form / ADTS submission including a full clinical history and any relevant treatment history.
Further information can be found here (English/Welsh)
Tick borne disease testing in cattle
The dual pan-piroplasm (which includes Babesia divergens) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of tick borne fever) PCR test is now accredited and will soon be offered by APHA on our surveillance test list, to test suspect cases of tick borne disease. In the meantime, APHA are still interested to hear about and discuss cases of tick borne disease in cattle throughout the 2023 grazing season, and may offer some free testing or a farm visit on a case by case basis. Please contact your local VIC to discuss the case and possible further investigation and testing.
Disease information
Disease Surveillance in Extensively Managed Livestock
- Surveillance for disease in extensively managed livestock – Vet Record December 2019
- Information for farmers on the Centre of Expertise for Extensively Managed Livestock (dual language) (PDF)
Ectoparasites including Sheep Scab
- Surveillance report into free ectoparasite examination for sheep scab in Wales - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
- Surveillance report into free ectoparasite examination for sheep scab in Wales – December 2021 to March 2022 - August 2022 - September 2022
- Surveillance report into free ectoparasite examination for sheep scab in Wales: November 2020 to March 2021 – August 2021
- Sheep Scab - developing resistance - Presentation
- Sheep scab – resistance English | Welsh – July 2020
- Sheep scab - the importance of accurate diagnosis - July 2019
- Report into free ectoparasite examination for sheep in Wales: December 2017 to March 2018- June 2018
Endoparasites including Liver Fluke
- Managing liver fluke on hill farms - Vet Record August 2022
- Taenia saginata - Transmission of tapeworms between humans and cattle – July 2020 - English | Welsh
Tick-borne diseases
- Tick-borne diseases of extensive cattle and sheep - Presentation
- Extensively managed livestock event focuses on tickborne diseases – April 2021
- Recordings from Tick-borne diseases Webinar – December 2020
- Increase in tick numbers and tick-borne diseases reported, particularly in sheep – May 2020
Other
- Plant poisoning in farm animals – October 2014.
Previous Activities
Activities related to the development of the Centre of Expertise have included three stakeholder conferences and a webinar covering tick-borne diseases.
Stakeholder Conferences
Bristol 2016
Our first conference in Bristol in July 2016 discussed issues faced in monitoring the health and welfare of extensively managed livestock. Fifty five delegates brought together representatives from industry, academia, retail, government and the veterinary profession to share information and develop collaborative ways of working to detect and manage disease and welfare threats.
The full report from the conference, including details on presentations and interactive sessions on how information and data could be better utilised is available.
A strong message gathered from workshop participants was on the better use of existing data. In particular how to provide access to APHA and SRUC Veterinary Services diagnostic data (VIDA) to farmers and veterinary surgeons. This has led to development of online 'GB Disease Surveillance Dashboards' which are now freely available online.
Penrith 2017
A second conference at Newton Rigg College, Penrith in November 2017 allowed interested stakeholders in the north of England and Scotland to contribute to the Centre's development and work. The full report from the conference, including details on presentations and interactive sessions on communication channels and the disease threats and health issues of importance in this sector is available.
Webinar 2020
In December 2020, a webinar brought together expert speakers from the fields of animal and human health to talk about tick-borne diseases. The webinar attracted a wide audience with participants including farmers, private vets, government vets and members of industry, academia and research. The talks were well received and generated some interesting questions and discussion. The majority of these talks are now available to watch on APHA’s YouTube channel:
- ‘Tick borne diseases in livestock in the UK’ Paul Phipps, Virology APHA Weybridge
- ‘The distribution and prevalence of ticks and tick-borne disease in cattle’ Katie Lihou, University of Bristol
- ‘Tick borne diseases of livestock – Diagnosis and treatment’ Suzi Bell, APHA Shrewsbury
- ‘Case Study - High mortality in a sheep flock caused by coinfection with Louping ill virus and Tick Borne Fever’ Bev Hopkins, Wales Veterinary Science Centre
- ‘Case Study - A tale of two tickborne diseases’ Harriet McFadzean, APHA Starcross
Aberystwyth 2022
The APHA Centre of Expertise for Extensively Managed Livestock (COEEML) Conference was held on 24th November 2022 at Aberystwyth University. The varied programme of talks attracted delegates from across the UK and Ireland, including vets, farmers, academics, researchers and other stakeholders.
The full conference report is now available.