August 4, 2023

UK livestock sector receives US$11.4 million funding for endemic disease research

The UK livestock sector is set to benefit from GBP 9 million (~US$11.4 million; GBP 1 = US$1.27) in UK government funding, allocated to 14 research projects aimed at addressing endemic diseases, Farmers Weekly reported.

The funding is part of the second phase of the GBP 11.5 million (~US$14.6 million) Endemic Livestock Diseases Initiative, with each project receiving grants ranging from GBP 500,000 (~US$635,000) to GBP 1 million (~US$1.2 million). The goal is to enhance animal productivity, health, and welfare by combatting challenges related to endemic diseases prevalent in livestock.

Covering a wide spectrum of the livestock industry, including swine, poultry, beef, sheep, and dairy, these projects place significant focus on digital agriculture and machine learning. Nine of the projects will leverage cutting-edge technologies to advance disease monitoring, diagnosis, and prevention.

Among the research endeavours are investigations into vaccines for bovine respiratory disease complex, precision solutions for controlling fasciolosis in sheep, and the use of artificial intelligence to track changes in social behaviour for early disease detection in dairy cattle.

The initiative has garnered support from key UK partners, including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland, and the Scottish government.

Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer at Defra, highlighted that this funding facilitates collaboration between farmers, veterinarians, and researchers to develop and test innovative solutions for critical animal health challenges on farms. She said that this endeavour would significantly impact the health and well-being of the UK's livestock.

Guy Poppy, BBSRC's Interim Executive Chairman, said that endemic diseases in the UK's livestock sector pose considerable challenges to animal welfare, productivity, and sustainable farming practices. He expressed confidence that by uniting the expertise of academia, industry, and end-users, this initiative will pave the way for ground breaking advancements in disease control, ultimately fostering a more productive and healthier livestock sector.

-      Farmers Weekly