https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/livestock-disease-guidance/
Livestock disease guidance
The table below lists the main livestock diseases affecting farms in England, with links to guidance on GOV.UK.
It's worth bookmarking the disease prevention for livestock keepers page on GOV.UK too. It explains how to prevent the introduction and spread of disease by following good hygiene and biosecurity practices on farms.
| Disease | Livestock affected |
|---|---|
| Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) | Cattle, sheep, pigs, goats |
| Bluetongue | Cattle, sheep, goats |
| Brucellosis | Cattle, sheep, goats |
| Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) | Cattle |
| BSE (Mad Cow Disease) | Cattle |
| Lumpy Skin Disease | Cattle |
| Scrapie | Sheep, goats |
| Sheep and Goat Pox | Sheep, goats |
| African Swine Fever (ASF) | Pigs |
| Classical Swine Fever (CSF) | Pigs |
| Swine Vesicular Disease | Pigs |
| Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) | Poultry |
| Rabies | All mammals |
Notifiable diseases
By law, some animal diseases must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), even if it’s only suspected.
All the diseases listed above are notifiable. The full list of notifiable diseases can be found on GOV.UK.
Quick reporting helps APHA respond rapidly to stop the disease spreading and to protect other livestock and wildlife.
If you suspect a notifiable disease in your animals, you must contact your private vet or the Defra Rural Services Helpline immediately on 03000 200 301.
To learn how APHA staff mobilise when there is a report of an exotic notifiable disease, read APHA's post, Disease emergency response in action.
Support
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway offers practical support to farmers.
Funded annual vet visits help identify and control endemic diseases, strengthen biosecurity plans, and improve overall herd health.
Health improvement plans and grants for infrastructure upgrades make it easier to build resilience against both endemic and exotic threats. Take a look at the guidance for follow-up vet visits for endemic diseases and this overview of the steps to apply.
Diagnostic testing and post-mortem examinations
Farmers can access subsidised diagnostic testing and post-mortem examinations through APHA’s sample submission service. This helps identify causes of disease and improve herd health.
Free carcase collection for postmortem examination (PME) is offered in some areas under APHA’s surveillance scheme. Find your nearest PME centre to access this service.
Compensation for notifiable disease
For some notifiable diseases, you may get compensation if your animals or birds are compulsorily culled.
Emergency and hardship support
Forage Aid and Addington Fund offer grants and forage aid to farmers facing hardship due to disease, extreme weather, or other emergencies.
Alerts and disease monitoring
Subscribe to APHA alerts for real-time notifications and check disease dashboards for trends.
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