Met horses on parade for health survey
HORSES belonging to the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch lined up this week to take part in the annual National Equine Health Survey (NEHS). This year, the annual survey, which has been run for the past six years by the charity Blue Cross in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association, takes place from May 22 to 29. It aims to provide a snapshot of equine health across the UK, collecting details of common health issues encountered in horses directly from horse owners. The Metropolitan Police's horses had their teeth, hooves and eyes checked by the Blue Cross's chief veterinary surgeon Mark Bossley. ‘...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Masters courses recognised for their role in improving animal welfare worldwide
TWO animal welfare education courses have been commended for the role they have played in transforming the care of pets, livestock and wild animals worldwide. The courses offered by the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R[D]SVS) have also been recognised for improving the welfare of animals used in research. Both courses have been awarded the Innovative Developments in Animal Welfare Award from the British Society of Animal Science and the RSPCA. One course, a masters degree in applied animal behaviour and animal welfare is an on-campus course which was introduced in 1990. It is run in collaboration with Scotland'...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
DAISY's developer recognised for lifetime contribution to the dairy industry
THE ‘outstanding achievements’ of Dick Esslemont, developer of the UK's first computerised dairy herd health system, have been recognised by the presentation of the Princess Royal Award by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF). The award is one of the highest accolades within the dairy industry and is given each year to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sector over their lifetime. Dr Esslemont, together with a team of colleagues at the University of Reading, was responsible for developing the original Dairy Information System (DAISY) to monitor health and fertility r...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Gamebird sector plays its part in promoting responsible use of antibiotics
THE BVA and British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) have given their support to new best practice guidance for prescribing antibiotics in gamebirds. The guidance has been produced by the Game Farmers Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Game Feeds Trade Association and the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance. It has also been endorsed by veterinary practices that carry out significant amounts of game work in the UK. Each UK livestock sector is currently developing a target and plan for reducing antibiotic use. The gamebird sector is set to declare a sector reduction target to the Ve...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Zoo licensing system: 'not fit for purpose
Barrow Borough Council's decision to grant a licence to a failing zoo under new management has led to demands for an independent zoo inspectorate. Problems at the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton, Cumbria, led the council to refuse previous owner David Gill a licence earlier this year, after inspections showed repeated serious animal welfare and public safety issues. On May 12, Mr Gill withdrew an appeal against Barrow council's decision to rescind his licence and stood aside as a director. The Cumbria Zoo Company was granted a licence instead. Now the Born Free Foundation, which brought the zoo's failings (such as animal ...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
CVS support for Veterinary Record's campaign to restrict the promotion of brachycephalic breeds in advertising
Corporate group CVS has added its support to a campaign by Veterinary Record and the BVA to stop the active promotion of brachycephalic breeds. In a statement last week, the group said that, in view of the health and welfare issues affecting brachycephalic animals, it would not use a number of brachycephalic breeds (listed right) in its advertising and promotional materials. Richard Killen, director of clinical services, said: ‘Going forward, it is our policy not to use images of brachycephalic animals in any of our advertising and promotional materials at a corporate or a practice level. Dogs Affenpinscher, American...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Reviewing Scotland's animal welfare act now 'imperative, says BVA president
TEN years after the introduction of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act, it is now imperative to assess whether it has kept pace with changes in society and is still effective in protecting animal welfare in Scotland. So said Gudrun Ravetz, the BVA president, addressing the BVA's Scottish dinner in Edinburgh last week. Noting that Roseanna Cunningham, Scotland's cabinet secretary for environment, climate change and land reform, had told BVA that a review of the Act would be taking place in the next four to five years, Mrs Ravetz said that such a review should be a priority. Highlighting a number of animal welfare ...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
New president for BVA's Scottish Branch
Melissa Donald (right) was elected as the new president of the BVA's Scottish Branch at its annual general meeting in Edinburgh on May 16. Dr Donald, who succeeded Grace Webster as president, will serve a two-year term. A graduate of Glasgow veterinary school, she has been involved with BVA for many years, having served on various BVA committees as well as the BVA Council. She is a past-president of the Ayrshire Veterinary Association. She is also a member of the RCVS Council. ‘I am honoured to be elected as president of BVA Scottish Branch,’ she said. ‘I believe my varied clinical experience, insight in...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Political parties pick up on BVA manifesto
THE BVA is claiming a ‘win for animal health and welfare’ as more than half of its own manifesto recommendations have been written into the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat priorities for the next parliament. In total, 11 of the BVA's 20 recommendations (listed below) have been met by one or more of the three parties' manifestos. The Association's manifesto, covering Brexit and wider policy issues, was sent to the main political parties' manifesto writing teams following the Prime Minister's announcement of a snap General Election. Gudrun Ravetz, BVA president, commented: ‘This General Election, ...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
Pet insurance costs rising rapidly
THE costs of typical pet insurance policies are rising at above inflation rates, with average increases of 4 per cent for dog owners and 4.8 per cent for cat owners between October last year and April this year. Figures from the insurance and financial market research agency Consumer Intelligence show that the average cost of a lifetime cover policy for a dog has increased by 4.7 per cent over that period, while the average cost of a maximum benefit policy for a cat has risen by 5.7 per cent. Matt Mather, client insight executive at Consumer Intelligence, said that there was a simple explanation for the rising cost of poli...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
News section
(Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research
How do the political parties stack up against vets' wishes?
EVER since Theresa May called the General Election last month, political pollsters have been predicting a Conservative victory. However, if recent political history has taught us anything, it's that political polling is not reliable and it would therefore be foolhardy to be complacent about the result. So, with less than two weeks before election day, it might be helpful to review the political parties' positions on the key issues that matter to the profession. This week we publish the BVA's manifesto (see p 508). With 11 out of 20 recommendations being written into the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat priorities ...
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Waters, A. Tags: Comment Source Type: research
Ten-minute chat
Claire Scott is a fourth-year student at the Royal Veterinary College. She has embarked on rotations and completed several of her required extramural studies weeks, including one spent with Veterinary Record. (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Scott, C. Tags: Ten Minute chats Vet Record Careers Source Type: research
Veterinary research as it so happened
Acting on ‘good advice and encouragement just when he needed it’ led Geoffrey Smith to try his hand at research. It is a decision he says he has never regretted; now he wants to encourage younger vets to embark on a similar career – one that benefits animals and people (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - May 26, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Smith, G. Tags: Research Vet Record Careers Source Type: research
Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior
Veterinarian and academic who made an outstanding lifetime contribution to bridging the worlds of medical and veterinary science. First veterinary surgeon to become a life peer (Source: Veterinary Record)
Source: Veterinary Record - May 18, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Obituary Source Type: research
