Welcome to the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative Knowledge Exchange

The SWHLI Knowledge Exchange provides knowledge support to all of the RDPE-funded SWHLI projects operating across the region as well as communicating the outcomes to the farming community.

latest news

• Isle of Purbeck BVD Meeting
  Healthy Livestock's regional approach to Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) control has sparked off interest in its eradication in part of Dorset.
• Margit Groenevelt Deliverers Results from Lameness Research to Dairy Farmers
  The Rural Business School's Healthy Livestock project joined the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust to host Liskeard Dairy Discussion Group, other local dairy farmers, cattle foot-trimmers and DairyCo staff at the Agrifood Centre in March.
• Pig Health Improvement Project: Industry Collaboration for Disease Elimination
  Over the past eighteen months, BPEX has developed an initiative to tackle long-term pig health issues through its 'Pig Health Improvement Project' (PHIP).
• Schmallenberg Snapshot Survey Results
  To acquire a snapshot of the region's situation with regard to the Schmallenberg virus, Healthy Livestock, part of the Rural Business School, in conjunction with the National Farmers Union (NFU) conducted a survey across the south west.
• Datapoul - Improving Performance, Growing Profits
  Datapoul combines egg producers' practical knowledge with veterinary expertise to achieve an improvement in farm performance and economic productivity.
• Event Offers Advice on Farming Issues
  FREE advice to farmers on a whole range of issues is being offered at a morning seminar at Lifton, near Launceston, on April 25
• Planning for Pullets Can't Start Early Enough
  Good quality pullets are the cornerstone of a successful egg enterprise, so what do producers need to consider when sourcing their future flock?
• Swine Dysentery Elimination is Priority
  The BPEX Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP) is focusing this year’s activity on the elimination of swine dysentery.
• Effective Worm Control in Sheep
  The launch of the parasite control strand for sheep farmers in the south west of England by the Healthy Livestock project in 2012 has been well received, and those completing the on farm one-to-one visits with their vets are reaping the benefits.
• Schmallenberg Hits Hard in South West
  Working in collaboration with the NFU, The Rural Business School's Healthy Livestock project aims to generate an understanding of the real impact Schmallenberg Virus has had on south west farmers.
• Reducing the Impact of Orf Virus on the Performance and Profitability of Focus Flocks
  Working to assess the impact of improving animal health and welfare on flock physical and financial performance to demonstrate the benefits of proactive health planning in practice.
• Improving returns from Out-wintering Livestock
  Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) and Bodmin Moor Livestock Initiative (BMLI) hosted an event at St Mabyn in December 2012 to demonstrate the reduction of the cost of wintering cattle
• Sheep Focus Farm Event at Burniere Farm, Wadebridge
  Cornish farmers took the opportunity to shelter from severe weather at the Healthy Livestock sheep focus farm event held at Burniere Farm in January
• Breeding, EBVs and Genetics to Improve Returns
  Bodmin Moor farmers were given the opportunity to learn how using estimated breeding values to breed selectively can influence herd profitability. Sam Boon of Signet Breeding Services gave a presentation focusing on terminal sire selection.
• SW Poultry Producer Wins Prize for Participation in AHVLA Survey
  This survey was supported and promoted by the SW Layers and Game Bird Initiative managed by the Duchy College Rural Business School.
• Healthy Livestock Project Extended Until October 2013
  Healthy Livestock, which provides south west farmers with up to 70% funding to improve the health and productivity of their sheep and cattle, has now been extended until October 2013.
• The Control of BVD and Johne's Disease in Beef and Dairy Herds
  The Cattle Health Project aims to control, and if possible eradicate BVD and Johne's disease in 44 beef and dairy herds through a programme of education, training and knowledge transfer.
• Tackling Johne's Disease with Healthy Livestock
  Steve Jones, farm manager of Cannington College's Rodway Farm in Somerset, tells Farmers Guardian how he is tackling Johne's disease with the help of the Healthy Livestock project.
• Healthy Livestock and the DairyCo Mastitis Control Plan
  After the very difficult summer, mastitis is more of a priority than ever, but help is at hand. All dairy farmers in the south west are entitled to 70% funding through Healthy Livestock to participate in the DairyCo Mastitis Control Plan.