Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 5th December 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Welfare research projects receive AWF funding
horses
Recipients of the grants will be able to carry out high quality veterinary research into the disease and welfare of horses, cattle and sheep.
Equine and livestock studies to look at disease and welfare
 
Six research projects on key aspects of livestock and equine welfare can now go ahead thanks to funding from the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF).

Recipients of the grants will be able to carry out high quality veterinary research into the disease and welfare of horses, cattle and sheep. The projects will take place over one to three years, with funding levels depending on the length of the study.

AWF's Norman Hayward Trust has awarded more than £1 million to research projects in just over a decade.

Karin Mueller, who will study lameness in beef cattle, said: "We are excited to be able to explore an area about which virtually nothing is known. Our work will potentially benefit millions of beef cattle, give a boost to beef farmers, and underline how seriously welfare of food producing animals is taken in the UK."

Lesley Miller, an independent researcher who will focus on rams in commercial sheep flocks, added: "Sheep farmers have a saying that the ram is ‘half the flock’, yet our knowledge of the challenges to the health and welfare of rams on commercial sheep farms is sparse.

"The funding we have received from the Norman Hayward Fund will enable us to establish the main factors associated with losses, the costs involved and allow us to start looking for ways to improve the longevity and welfare of this vital group of animals."

The full list of 2016 recipients:
  • Karin Mueller, Liverpool University: Lameness in beef cattle - establishing a knowledge base
  • Lesley Stubbings, Independent: Improving the welfare and longevity of rams in commercial sheep flocks
  • Dr Maria R Lopez-Alvarez, Animal Health Trust: Validation of equine cell lines as a cellular replacement to model equine primary cells for in-vitro studies
  • Katherine Hughes, Cambridge University: Understanding the role of STAT1, STAT3 and STAT5 in naturally occurring inflammatory lesions of the bovine and ovine mammary gland
  • Diana Williams, Liverpool University: The impact of liver fluke infection on the welfare of horses
  • Laura Green, Warwick University: Development, testing and rollout of an online lameness recording system for sheep farmers

AWF chairman Chris Laurence said one of its main charitable aims is to raise the standards of practical animal welfare, which is why it supports research projects that could change the way we understand livestock and equine welfare.

He added: "This year’s recipients show a great range and depth in their research topics and we look forward to some interesting outcomes that will improve the day to day lives of the target species."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

RCVS Knowledge appoints Veterinary Evidence editor-in-chief

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence.

A world-renowned expert in evidence-based veterinary medicine, Prof Cockcroft will lead the strategic development and editorial quality of the open-access journal. He was previously in the role from 2017-2020.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are excited about the extensive knowledge of evidence-based veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary research that Peter brings, and we look forward to working with him over this next phase of the journal's development." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CVS Group hit by cyber attack

CVS Group, which owns more than 450 veterinary practices in the UK, has been hit by a cyber attack.

In a statement, the group said the incident involved unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the group took its IT systems temporarily offline, causing 'considerable operational disruption'.

It has warned that the security steps taken and ongoing plans to move its operational systems and IT infrastructure to the Cloud are likely to have an ongoing impact over a number of weeks.

Due to the risk that personal information was accessed, CVS has informed the Information Commissioner's Office. The company is working with third party consultants to investigate the incident.