Ridgeway Research News Archive - Page 2 of 11

This is the main category that all Ridgeway News is posted to.

Broilers: Slow and Steady Wins the Race?

13th July 2021

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

Broilers: Slow and Steady Wins the Race? Recently, M&S has become the first UK retailer to commit to removing all fast-growing broiler chickens from their supply lines. In the next 12 months, all fresh chicken products will be sourced from slow-growing breeds. Processed chicken products, for example those in ready-made sandwiches or meals, will be sourced from slow-growing broilers by 2026. This announcement comes at a time when animal welfare is very much in the public eye with the launch…

This year's WAAVP conference might look a little different!

International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) 2021

29th June 2021

Georgie Atton

Anthelmintic Resistance, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News

International Conference of the World Association of Veterinary Parasitology 2021 The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) holds an international conference every two years. There, scientists from around the world present the most recent developments in veterinary parasitology. However, with the trials presented by COVID-19, this year’s conference will be fully virtual. What is the WAAVP? The WAAVP is a non-profit organisation of scientists who study diverse aspects of veterinary parasitology. It is the largest such organisation…

Scratching can be a sign that an animal has fleas.

Fleas: A Worldwide Pest

23rd June 2021

Georgie Atton

Cats, Companion Animals, Dogs, Farm Animals, Home Page News, Parasites, Ridgeway Research News

Fleas: A Worldwide Pest When we think of fleas, we usually think of pets. Cats and dogs can regularly be seen scratching because of these tiny parasites, and preventing or checking for them is a regular part of pet care. But fleas can bother livestock animals too. With over 2,500 species, fleas are diverse and worldwide pests. On top of that, they can carry a host of diseases. Historically, rat fleas were responsible for the spread of bubonic plague across…

Biosecurity on the Farm: The Basics

15th June 2021

Georgie Atton

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…