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New funding for Sub-Saharan livestock care
Zoetis will use the funding to improve access to veterinary products and services for small-scale livestock farmers.
The Gates Foundation grant aims to reduce impact of livestock diseases.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a grant of US$15.3 million (£12.75 million) to Zoetis to improve veterinary care and diagnostic services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The funding will allow the animal health company to expand its existing African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A) scheme to more countries, helping smallholder farms to access diagnostic tools and veterinary products and services.

The initiative will put a particular focus on supporting female farmers. Women-led, female-only training courses will be held to increase participation in the scheme among women.

The original initiative, which received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2017, aimed to tackle livestock disease by creating affordable and sustainable access to animal health products for farmers involved in poultry, dairy and beef production. Starting in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, the scheme later expanded to include Tanzania.

The new funding will see the initiative expand further over the next five years under the new name African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement Plus (A.L.P.H.A. Plus). Kenya, Ivory Coast and five more markets from Sub-Saharan will be included.

There will also now be support from the scheme for small-scale fish producers working in Lake Victoria and Lake Volta, reflecting the fast growth of tilapia as a food source in the region.

To successfully implement the programme, Zoetis and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will work alongside the public and private sector, including local veterinary associations, farmer associations, NGOs and governmental authorities.

Kristin Peck, chief executive officer of Zoetis, said: “Access to medicines and technology will help farmers raise healthier animals, improve productivity and secure more sustainable revenue, which is critical to the economic development and well-being of the region and its population.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.