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Welsh vet scoops international BVDZero award
Magda Sioukiouroglou won first prize in the BVDZero awards.
Work underlines the importance of a robust herd health plan.

A vet from south Wales has won an international BVDZero award, which aims to raise awareness of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and its control.

Magda Sioukiouroglou from Prostock Vets, Carmarthen, took first prize and also won a share of the 15,000 euros prize fund for her submission, which focused on a closed dairy farm with BVD-free status.

The farm is a member of the national BVD eradication scheme, backed by the Welsh government. Under the scheme, young stock from each management group are screened for BVD antibodies annually, at the same time as routine TB testing.

A positive result would usually suggest contact with a persistently infected animal in the herd. But, following an unexpected positive result, the farm became eligible for funding to identify possible persistently infected animals. However, all adult animals were negative.

Using the British Cattle Movement Service, Magda was able to identify that the positive animal had been to cattle shows, where it is likely to have become infected.

Commenting on her submission, Magda stressed that her work underlines the importance of a robust herd health plan:

“Biosecurity is a big concern, and it’s important that measures are put in place to protect herd health,” she said. “We recommended that the farmer vaccinates any animals he wants to take to shows in the future and to keep them in quarantine for at least four weeks before introducing them back to the herd.

“Additionally, we will keep monitoring for BVD annually by screening youngstock and bulk milk samples for BVD virus and tag and test calves.”
The BVDZero Awards is an international competition open to anyone working within the cattle industry submitting a case involving BVD.

“The health impacts for our national herd and the financial implications for our industry in Wales as a consequence of BVD can be devastating, and I am proud of the partnership work between Industry and Government that the Gwaredu BVD scheme provides for,” commented Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales.

“The eradication of BVD across Wales is an achievable goal, thanks to our veterinary practices and practitioners such as yourself, engaging with the scheme and delivering it to farmers in order to improve cattle health across Wales”.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.