'High-yield' farming costs the environment less than previously thought – and could help spare habitats18 September 2018New findings suggest that more intensive agriculture might be the "least bad" option for feeding the world while saving its species – provided use of such "land-efficient" systems prevents further conversion of wilderness to farmland.

China’s “livestock revolution” demands “new transition”24 July 2018Demand for animal protein and increasing wealth fuelled a tripling in the domestic production of livestock in China between 1980 and 2010, and the rise, despite some improvements in efficiencies at the farm level, had significant impacts on environmental sustainability, nationally and globally.

Bristol Veterinary School’s AMR Force wins Antibiotic Guardian Award4 July 2018Bristol Veterinary School’s AMR Force research group has won a prestigious award at this year’s Antibiotic Guardian Awards in recognition of the group’s achievement in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Bristol researchers win EPSRC fellowship to develop AI for early disease diagnosis in calves22 June 2018Two researchers at the University of Bristol have been awarded a joint Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Fellowship to investigate early disease diagnosis in dairy calves using artificial intelligence (AI) methods.

Bristol researchers to benchmark medicine use across UK beef farms14 June 2018Researchers at the University of Bristol are to quantify and compare farm animal medicine use within and across UK beef operations. The project aims to help demonstrate and communicate the gains made to consumers, processors, retailers and policy makers.

Bristol Vet School at the forefront of combatting antimicrobial resistance28 April 2018Researchers from the Bristol Veterinary School at the University of Bristol are leading the way with farmers to combat and change antimicrobial (AM) use on farms. Antimicrobial resistance - or AMR - is a global threat, with an estimated 700,000 people dying from resistant infections every year.

Healthy soil lifts animal weight17 April 2018Managing soil by well-designed grazing is key to an animal's growth and wellbeing shows new research linking soil health, pasture value and sustainable production.
Stewardship policy reduces antimicrobial use on farms5 January 2017Evidence suggests the frequent use of certain antimicrobials (AM) in food-producing animals may reduce their effectiveness as treatments for both animals and humans. Researchers at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences are finding novel ways to address these concerns, working with farmers to empower them to develop policies to promote more responsible use of medicines on farms.

School leading the way to change antimicrobial (AM) use on farms?11 November 2017Antimicrobial resistance - or AMR - is a global threat, with an estimated 700,000 people dying from resistant infections every year.  This week [13-19 November] is World Antibiotic Awareness Week and ongoing research from the University’s Vet School has been showcased in a new video produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

How can diagnostics deliver a more effective use of antibiotics in animals?10 July 2017Are there better ways to diagnose animals in need of antibiotics on livestock farms? How will farmers and veterinarians use novel diagnostics in the fight against animal disease? These are some questions a consortium of seven academics – including two veterinarians from the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences - will address thanks to a £1.75 million grant to understand how better diagnostics can encourage responsible antibiotic use in animals.
Stewardship policy reduces antimicrobial use on farms5 January 2017Evidence suggests the frequent use of certain antimicrobials (AM) in food-producing animals may reduce their effectiveness as treatments for both animals and humans. Researchers at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences are finding novel ways to address these concerns, working with farmers to empower them to develop policies to promote more responsible use of medicines on farms.

Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award Winners 20161 December 2016The winners of this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Awards, which showcase the diverse and important contributions that Bristol research makes to society, were announced at the Strategy Launch on 29 November.

Antibiotics could be cut by up to a third, say dairy farmers3 October 2016Nine in 10 dairy farmers participating in a new survey from the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RADBF) say that the farming industry must take a proactive lead in the battle against antibiotic resistance. Those questioned also think that over the next five years they could cut their own antibiotic use by almost a third in dry cow therapy and a fifth in clinical mastitis.
Researchers net £1.5m grant to boost understanding of drug resistant infections9 June 2016A consortium of nine academics from the University of Bristol has been awarded £1.5 million to carry out research on antibiotic resistance (AMR) in animals and the risks it poses to humans.
Grazing towards sustainability12 January 2016The first international Global Farm Platform conference hosted by the University of Bristol this week [12 to 15 January] will highlight the benefits of utilising pasture and robust cows over high-yield, intensive systems.
Vet School academic wins Farm Animal Welfare Award14 April 2015An academic from the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences is one of the winners of the 2015 Ceva Animal Welfare Awards. The awards commend and recognise volunteers, charity workers and veterinary professionals for their outstanding contribution to animal welfare around the world.
Livestock can produce food that is better for the people and the planet5 March 2014With one in seven humans undernourished, and with the challenges of population growth and climate change, the need for efficient food production has never been greater. Eight strategies to cut the environmental and economic costs of keeping livestock, such as cows, goats and sheep, while boosting the quantity and quality of the food produced have been outlined by an international team of scientists.

Bristol Farm Animal Veterinary Society hosts national student congress12 February 2014What farmers will want from their veterinary surgeon in the future was one of the subjects discussed at the Farm Animal Veterinary Society’s 2014 congress held at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences at Langford.
Animal welfare researchers in Israel break new ground22 January 2014Animal welfare scientists at the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences have been investigating the potential of a novel method of assessing the welfare of dairy cows. The research could provide early indications of health and welfare problems and help in more timely and effective interventions.
New £2 million Vet School dairy farm to be opened by BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson10 September 2013A new £2 million state-of-the-art dairy farm at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences at Langford will be officially opened by farmer and BBC One Countryfile presenter, Adam Henson, tomorrow, Wednesday 11 September.

New method to age cattle from their teeth8 July 2013New research by academics at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences has applied modern statistical techniques to investigate the association between the stages of dentition in cattle and their age to give a more detailed explanation of the differences between the sexes and various breeds of cattle in the UK.

Animal welfare initiative to improve the lives of millions of dairy cows1 June 2012A new animal welfare tool is being launched to help improve the lives of millions of dairy cows across the UK through practical, reliable and scientifically robust methods of direct observation.