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Animal Health and Welfare

AFBI’s animal health and welfare programme is directed towards helping government and industry maintain and improve the health and welfare of our production animals.

Our scientific work includes; Testing in support of statutory animal disease control and eradication programmes such as those for TSEs, brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis; Emergency response capability for epizootic and emerging disease threats; Animal disease surveillance and investigation; Commercial testing services and industry support such as BVD and Cattle Health Scheme testing; Evaluation of the welfare impact of different production systems; and Research to improve the diagnosis and control of animal diseases.

Read our Privacy Notice to learn more about how AFBI's Bacteriology Branch handles your personal information in the course of its duties.

Read our Privacy Notice to learn more about how AFBI's Disease Surveillance & Investigation Branch handles your personal information in the course of its duties.

Read our Privacy Notice to learn more about how your personal information is handled if you participate in the AFBI Cattle Health Scheme.

Diagnostic & Analytical

  • AFBI Cattle Health Scheme
  • Animal Disease Diagnostic Services
  • Animal Immunodiagnostic Services

Specialist Advice

  • AFBI Cattle Health Scheme
  • DAERA scientific advice
  • Emergency response for epizootic diseases

Research & Development

  • Animal welfare
  • Bacteriology research
  • Bovine respiratory disease

Specialist Facilities

  • Containment level 2 & Containment level 3 facilities
  • Electron microscope
  • Fish disease unit

Related to Animal Health and Welfare

Publications

  • Animal disease surveillance reports: 2026

    Published 03 June 2026
  • Science Impacts Publications

    Published 12 May 2026
See all publications in this topic

Most recent news items

AFBI publishes latest animal disease surveillance report outlining key cases

Published 03 June 2026

AFBI’s research ‘makes a real difference to Northern Ireland’

Published 28 May 2026

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