VETSALUS NEWS BULLETIN: October 2026

This is the latest of a series of news bulletins, which are being produced monthly. Each bulletin will highlight topics of interest to VetSalus consultants and other interested parties. 

UK Dairy Industry

Some interesting statistics have recently emerged from the UK dairy industry which has been struggling recently with drought conditions and low milk prices. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) reports that the national dairy herd has reduced in size to its lowest ever level, with 1.57 million cows reported on 1st July 2026, a reduction of nearly 35,000 head over the previous year.^[1] Of considerable concern is the 2.2% drop in youngstock, creating concerns about future replacements. This has been partly linked to the use of sexed semen and the increasing trend to dairy beef.^[2]

However the same sources, the AHDB and the Dairy Reporter, notes that milk volumes have actually risen to an all time high of over 13 billion litres. It seems that this improved efficiency and productivity are partly the result of the availability of cheaper foods. It is of course too early to say whether this apparent rise in efficiency, which would  generally be welcomed from a  sustainability perspective, has reduced carbon emissions. Detailed Life Cycle Analyses will be required before this can be confirmed.

Global warming models underestimate?

A worrying report from New Scientist outlines possible underestimation in climate change trends.^[3] Work recently published by scientists at ETH, Zurich suggests that predictions may be more than 1C lower than reality; one model currently predicting a 2.6C rise could actually be 3.25C! The work has examined numerous models and collected for biases which have been introduced historically by phenomena like El Nino. A global warming hiatus in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, when global warming slowed, has now been recognised and many models were based on this now doubtful data. If these reports are correct a1.5C rise is history and 2.25C is the ‘new normal’, which will increase the likelihood of extreme climate events. 

HPAI update

To date, only one case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been reported in New Zealand; and that case was on a migrating seabird so there is no evidence for transmission of the virus within the country’s borders. The virus has been sweeping around the world in recent years and has caused significant losses in both domestic and wild birds. While veterinarians in many parts of the world will be familiar with the symptoms, the Veterinary Council of New Zealand has recently issued guidelines to assist veterinarians encountering sick or injured birds. You can find the guidelines on their website here: https://www.vetcouncil.org.nz/Web/News/Articles/2026/Dealing-with-sick-or-dead-birds-during-an-HPAI-outbreak.aspx  

Bluetongue

Meanwhile in the UK and many areas of Europe, the battle against Bluetongue rages on with the spread of the virus, which is transmitted by midges, being assisted by the warm summer conditions. The UK government reported nearly 100 new cases in England and Wales on 27th September and there have been over 2,000 cases in the UK year to date. You can find more details about the outbreak, the spread of which has been linked to climate change on the UK government website.^[4]

Movie Review: Derek vs Derek 

It is difficult to review a movie I haven’t seen (but do intend watching soon) but the release of the Derek vs Derek movie will be of interest to many readers of this newsletter. The film stars two farming neighbours one of whom, Derek Gow, is a dedicated rewilder while the farm next door, is managed by Derek Banbury along more traditional lines. The documentary, which is described as amusing, follows their relationship over three years.

The movie is viewable through a number of internet outlets and in selected cinemas over the coming weeks and looks like it will be well worth a viewing?

How Vets Reduce the Carbon Footprints of Farms - The booklet is now available!

The compilation of a series of articles, published in 2025 and 2026 into a convenient booklet has taken longer than anticipated but it has now been published as a paperback on Amazon and in electronic form on Kindle. The articles, written by VetSalus Director, Lewis Griffiths, were a popular series when first produced and by collecting them into a booklet it is hoped they will continue to provide useful information which can add to discussions. 

A colour version of the paperback is available in most international markets, with a lower cost black and white version being generally available. The kindle version is also generally available.

How Vets Reduce the Carbon Footprints of Farms: A VetSalus Publication 2026 is available on kindle or in colour paperback via Amazon at https://amzn.eu/d/04oavRoa with the black and white paperback version also available at https://amzn.eu/d/0aACb9VT

This newsletter has used A.I. resources to search for references but these were reviewed before use and the articles have been written and edited by a human brain.

If you are interested in the work of VetSalus, you will find a wider range of articles and educational material on our web site: Home | VetSalus