A joint LHS/Zoetis funded study has found beef farmers could yield a return on investment of over £120 a cow by using artificial insemination (AI) instead of natural service due to increased pregnancy rates, calf weights and reduced mortality. 

LHS contributed to the production of this Moredun Research Institute report, in conjunction with SEFARI and the UK Ruminant Health & Welfare group.

This project was carried out by Tim Geraghty and colleagues from SRUC Vet Services in Aberdeen, and followed the offspring of 2000 cows from birth to weaning.  

In partnership with the Quality Meat Scotland Monitor Farm Programme, LHS funded an on-farm study to identify risk factors for lamb morbidity and mortality on a Scottish commercial sheep farm. The findings have informed a targeted action plan to address the key challenges faced by this farm to help improve lamb survival rates.

LHS funded a project to blood sample sheep imported onto Shetland to assess exposure to sheep scab with the results helping to inform appropriate treatment options and control measures. The project highlighted the risk of sourcing breeding stock testing sero-positive for sheep scab but appear in good health and scab free. 

LHS funded a liver fluke project in Argyll, led by the Moredun Research Institute with support from local farms and vet groups. The initiative established a monitoring programme for sentinel sheep groups, identifying infection thresholds that triggered targeted treatments and evolved to test triclabendazole efficacy. Building on this model, Moredun is now collaborating with the Lewis & Harris Sheep Producers Association to expand the programme across the island’s crofting community. A project also funded by LHS. 

A guide to liver fluke control in grazing livestock that details the RIGHT approach – considering the 5 Rs. 

This project was carried out jointly along with Shetland Vets and Shetland Isles Council.  It explored using environmental sampling to detect MAP, the organism responsible for Johne's disease.