Georgie Atton, Author at Ridgeway Research

Biosecurity on the Farm: The Basics

15th June 2021

Farm Animals, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News

Biosecurity on the Farm: The Basics What is biosecurity and why does it matter? With the COVID-19 pandemic first and foremost in our minds, disease spread is currently a hot topic. Managing the risks of disease and preventing transfer, however, has been part of agricultural life for many decades. Simply put, biosecurity is the prevention of disease or contamination through practical measures. These can be anything from making sure you always wash your hands properly, to using foot dips and…

Dogs and Livestock: The Problem of Parasites

8th June 2021

Georgie Atton

Farm Animals, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News, Tapeworms

Dogs and Livestock: The Problem of Parasites Dogs have been part of the agricultural community for thousands of years. While the exact date of domestication is under a lot of academic debate, common consensus states that dogs have been our companions for at least 20,000 years. From herding livestock to guarding flocks, dogs are still vital members of agricultural communities. On the other hand, having dogs around increases the risk of some parasite infections. So what are the main parasites…

Set a Wasp to Catch a Fly: Nuisance Flies and Biological Control

1st June 2021

Georgie Atton

Cattle, Farm Animals, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News

Set a Wasp to Catch a Fly: Nuisance Flies and Biological Control With spring firmly settled in, and the grass finally starting to grow, fly season is fast approaching. While flies and midges are expected when dealing with livestock, too many can cause significant problems. Here we take a look at a few of the management option available, from chemical treatments to biological control. The problems flies cause In the UK, the main flies which bother livestock are house, stable,…

Great British Beef Week: Sustainability in the Beef Industry

25th May 2021

Georgie Atton

Cattle, Dairy, Farm Animals, Home Page News, Ridgeway Research News, Ridgeway Science

Great British Beef Week: Sustainability in the Beef Industry This week is Great British Beef Week. Originally started by the Ladies in Beef, a grassroots agricultural collective, this year marks the 11th celebration of British beef. While last year’s celebrations were greatly curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the focus is on sustainability in the beef industry. What is the problem? When assessing sustainability in an agricultural industry, there are three main areas that are usually focussed on. These…

What is a Notifiable Disease in Animal Health?

18th May 2021

Georgie Atton

Farm Animals, Home Page News, Ridgeway Research News

What is a Notifiable Disease in Animal Health? In some of our recent articles, we’ve discussed various notifiable diseases like bluetongue, foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, and sheep scab. But what exactly is a notifiable disease and what do you have to do if you suspect one? What is a notifiable disease? Simply put, a notifiable disease is disease which, if suspected or confirmed, by law must be reported to an appropriate authority. In the UK, this is the Animal and…

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

11th May 2021

Georgie Atton

Ridgeway Research News, Ridgeway Science

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 Nature can help us feel more grounded and reduce feelings of anger, sadness and fatigue. That’s why, this year, the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is Nature. Here at Ridgeway Research, we’re lucky to be located in the beautiful Forest of Dean. We’re just a stone’s throw away from the Wye Valley, one of Wales’ most famous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Many studies have shown that bringing nature into or everyday lives and…

Over our tree planting day, we managed to plant 70 oak and ten hazel saplings.

Ridgeway is Going Green: Tree Planting for Earth Day

4th May 2021

Georgie Atton

Home Page News, Ridgeway Research News, Ridgeway Science

Ridgeway is Going Green: Tree Planting for Earth Day Protecting our environment and reducing our carbon footprint are extremely important to us here at Ridgeway Research. We work closely with the agricultural sector and know how essential holding back climate change is. As global temperature increases and biodiversity loss is accelerated, agriculture is feeling the pinch. Carbon dioxide emissions With technology the way it is, at the moment, carbon emissions are an unfortunate fact of life. Although renewable energy and…

Grazing deficits are common as this year's spring is too dry and cold for optimal grass growth.

Spring Grazing Deficits: Why Isn’t the Grass Growing?

27th April 2021

Georgie Atton

Cattle, Farm Animals, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News, Sheep

Spring Grazing Deficits: Why Isn’t the Grass Growing? Across the UK, many farmers are reporting grazing deficits. This occurs when the demand for feed from pasture is greater than the amount of grass actually growing. When this happens, farmers must provide animals with extra feed to keep them healthy and maintain growth. With peak lambing season upon us, there are many extra mouths to feed in UK flocks. So why isn’t grass growing as much as expected? And what can…

Regenerative Agriculture: A Hopeful Outlook

20th April 2021

Georgie Atton

Farm Animals, Home Page News, Ridgeway Research News

Regenerative Agriculture: A Hopeful Outlook Livestock farming is both essential for the survival of our species, and yet also detrimental to the planet we live on. Raising animals for meat and dairy produces around 14.5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Crop and animal monocultures damage biodiversity. Primary forest is cleared every day for grazing land and for more crops. Climate change and environmental degradation paint a bleak picture of our future. But what if there was a way that…

To Worm or Not to Worm: Anthelmintic Resistance in Dogs

12th April 2021

Georgie Atton

Anthelmintic Resistance, Companion Animals, Dogs, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News

To Worm or Not to Worm: Anthelmintic Resistance in Dogs This month is National Pet Month and across the UK people are celebrating the support, love, and affection we receive from these wonderful animals. We all want to keep our pets healthy and regular worming treatment is considered part of that. But is it really the best option? Can repeated treatment of worms lead to wide-spread anthelmintic resistance in dogs as it has in livestock? Which worms can dogs catch?…