Vets are being warned of the risk of flooding to livestock welfare following Storm Aileen. 

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is warning that flooding following poor weather can have a huge impact on small holders and farmers.

Around 43 per cent of vets in flood-prone areas reported loss of livestock, lameness or other welfare problems following the country’s last major storm-flooding in winter 2015/16, according to a survey run by the BVA. 

The storms, which broke rainfall records at the time, saw rural areas of Dorset completely engulfed in water.

Carried out following Storms Desmond, Eva and Frank, the survey showed that a third of vets living in flood-affected areas reported that their clients had lost livestock due to the flooding, while around a quarter of vets reported cases of flood-related lameness.

BVA says standing in water and deep mud can aggravate infections and diseases in cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock, such as foot rot. Mud also creates an ideal habitat for the tiny snails which spread the serious parasite, liver fluke, which can be fatal to sheep. 

John Fishwick, junior vice president of the BVA said: “The impact of storms and flooding on animal welfare can be devastating.

“We’re encouraging all livestock owners to exercise caution during extreme wet weather and take precautions where they can.”