Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Welfare

Tick-borne encephalitis and louping ill in cattle cause neurological disease and welfare harm in endemic upland areas.

Key Facts

Louping ill virus transmitted by Ixodes ticks causes encephalitis in cattle and other animals
Affected animals show incoordination, tremors and seizures causing significant distress
Vaccination is available and effective at preventing louping ill in cattle in endemic areas
Tick habitat management including bracken control reduces tick abundance on upland farms
Climate change is expanding the range of tick species and tick-borne disease risk

Welfare Considerations

Louping ill causes acute neurological suffering in affected cattle. Vaccination in tick-endemic upland areas is both welfare-protective and economically justified. Climate change expanding tick ranges makes awareness and vaccination increasingly important.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate cattle in known louping ill endemic areas as part of preventive health planning
Implement tick monitoring and habitat management programmes on upland farms
Advocate for research into tick-borne disease distribution changes associated with climate change