ALMOST 70,000 calves die between birth and six weeks of age and a further 42,500 are stillborn, according to official figures from the Department of Agriculture.

WITH the calving season approaching, dairy and suckler farmers have been reminded about the dangers of the highly contagious disease, salmonella, to both animal and human health.

SHEEP farmers have been warned about the risks of picking up the serious skin disease, orf, from infected sheep.