Focus on farm animals
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From emerging disease threats and anthelmintic resistance to the ongoing challenges of improving herd and flock health, the UK livestock sector faces an increasingly complex animal health landscape. Recent disease outbreaks have reinforced the importance of preparedness and effective surveillance, while advances in diagnostics are creating new opportunities for earlier detection and more informed disease management.
These are some of the issues shaping farm veterinary practice today, as the emphasis increasingly moves towards proactive disease prevention, evidence-based decision-making and more sustainable approaches to livestock health management.
They're also among the themes being explored at London Vet Show 2026, where the farm animal programme brings together practical clinical advice, emerging research and expert perspectives on the challenges facing livestock vets and their farming clients.
Preparing for disease outbreaks
The increase in bluetongue virus cases across Great Britain during 2026 has put disease recognition, vaccination, vaccine availability and biosecurity firmly in the spotlight.
With the potential for other significant livestock disease threats to emerge, preparedness remains a priority for the veterinary and farming sectors. The session Disease readiness: How Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) supports farm practice before, during and after a disease outbreak considers what this means for farm practices and their clients.
Disease readiness: How AHDB supports farm practice before, during and after a disease outbreak
19 Nov 2026 | 09:00 - 09:50 | RVC Farm Theatre
Chairperson: Beth Reilly, Royal Veterinary College
Speaker: Mandy Nevel, AHDB
Drawing on lessons learned from the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Beth Reilly and Mandy Nevel explore how a major disease incursion might unfold in today's farming systems, and the tools, information and support available to help vets, farmers and the wider industry prepare and respond.
Strengthening disease diagnosis and surveillance
Effective disease surveillance begins with recognising and investigating health problems on individual farms. When diagnostic findings are brought together at a national level, they can help identify emerging disease patterns, detect new threats and inform wider disease prevention and control strategies.
The session Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) update: making the most of the diagnostic services offered for farm animal species explores how vets can access specialist diagnostic support, both to manage disease on individual farms and to contribute to national surveillance efforts.
APHA update: making the most of the diagnostic services offered for farm animal species19 Nov 2026 | 10:15–11:05 | RVC Farm Theatre
Chairperson: Beth Reilly, Royal Veterinary College
Speakers: Chris Burns, Toby Floyd and Non Evans, APHA
Using case examples investigated by APHA, the speakers will demonstrate how its diagnostic services can help vets diagnose, control and prevent disease in farm animals. The session will also explore how veterinary investigations contribute to identifying new or re-emerging disease threats, and how APHA can support the investigation of alternative diagnoses when suspected notifiable diseases have been ruled out.
Investigating unexpected pig deaths
An unexpected death in a pig herd may be an early indication of a wider health problem, making prompt investigation essential. Identifying the cause can help protect other animals, inform future herd health management and, where notifiable disease is suspected, contribute to wider disease surveillance.
The session Problem solving the ‘found dead’ pig for improved future herd health explores how vets can approach these investigations systematically, particularly when dealing with pigs kept on small-scale holdings.
Problem solving the ‘found dead' pig for improved future herd health20 Nov 2026 | 10:00 - 10:50 | RVC Farm Theatre
Chairperson: James Patrick Crilly, Royal Veterinary College
Speakers: Tom Hill and Claire Scott, Animal and Plant Health Agency
Claire Scott and Tom Hill will discuss common differential diagnoses for pigs found dead, how to undertake basic diagnostic investigations and when to report a suspected notifiable disease. The session will also explain where vets can access advice and support, including the diagnostic services available through APHA, to help inform investigations and protect future herd health.
Understanding liver fluke risk
Liver fluke remains a significant challenge for sheep farmers, with anthelmintic resistance adding to the difficulties of effective control. Understanding where and when infection is most likely to occur is essential to reducing unnecessary treatments and developing more sustainable approaches to parasite management.
But how accurately can farmers identify the areas of their land that pose the greatest risk? The session Was that a fluke? How better to understand fluke infections in sheep flocks explores the gap between perceived and actual infection risks, and what this means for veterinary advice and flock health management.
Was that a fluke? How better to understand fluke infections in sheep flocks19 Nov 2026 | 15:20 - 16:10 | RVC Farm Theatre
Chairperson: James Patrick Crilly, Royal Veterinary College
Speaker: Rhys Jones, Aberystwyth University
Drawing on research into farmers' understanding of liver fluke infection risk, James Patrick Crilly and Rhys Jones will reveal discrepancies between perceived and actual risk areas on sheep farms, and how these can contribute to unnecessary anthelmintic treatments. The session will explore the influence of environmental and grazing factors on fluke transmission, practical non-chemical control strategies, including land and grazing management techniques, and the role of vet-farmer relationships in developing more targeted and sustainable approaches to fluke control.
Decision making around bovine emergencies
Not every challenge in farm veterinary practice can be anticipated or prevented. When emergencies arise, vets need to make sound clinical decisions, often under considerable pressure.
The session Approach to calvings and other farm emergencies – science and practice brings together current scientific evidence and practical experience to help vets approach these challenging situations with greater confidence.
Approach to calvings and other farm emergencies - science and practice20 Nov 2026 | 16:00 - 16:50 | RVC Farm Theatre
Chairperson: Beth Reilly, Royal Veterinary College
Speaker: Peter Plate, Royal Veterinary College
Combining over 30 years of farm veterinary experience with the current scientific evidence, Beth Reilly and Peter Plate will explore a logical approach to difficult calvings, including deciding when a caesarean section is necessary. They'll also cover common bovine emergencies such as downer cows, toxic mastitis and digestive problems, offering practical advice to help vets, particularly recent graduates, make confident clinical decisions under pressure.
From strengthening disease preparedness and surveillance to improving parasite control and managing clinical emergencies, the farm animal programme offers opportunities to explore the latest evidence and practical approaches to some of the challenges facing livestock vets today.
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