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Irish minister rejects call for live animal export ban
Mr Creed asserted that the majority of live animal exports from Ireland are bovines and, unlike Romania, Ireland exports very few sheep.

Says Ireland’s exports operate to highest animal welfare standards

Minister for agriculture in Ireland Michael Creed has rejected the call for a ban on live animal exports from the country, according to the Irish Times. The call came from Ireland South MEP Grace O’Sullivan after 14,000 sheep perished when an animal export vessel travelling from Romania capsized last month.

“These live exports shouldn’t be happening,” said Ms O’Sullivan, “The case in Romania proves a point to an extent, but we know for years that it isn’t a good way to bring animals, particularly in Ireland’s case, from Ireland to Libya.

“Why wouldn’t we process the meat in Ireland if we are exporting, and enable the jobs in Ireland and then send the meat abroad?”

But Mr Creed asserted that the majority of live animal exports from Ireland are bovines and, unlike Romania, Ireland exports very few sheep.

The minister commented: “I absolutely reject Grace O’Sullivan’s call to stop live exports because our exports are based on the highest welfare standards and I believe it is possible to continue that trade, having animal welfare at the heart of it.”

Figures from Bord Bia, the Irish food board, showed that live cattle exports from Ireland had risen to 295,000 in 2019 compared to 243,000 in 2018, and calves made up almost 200,000 of imports this year.

Mr Creed continued: “Certainly Fine Gael in government has a clear commitment to live exports and in fact it has increased over the last number of years but only on the basis that it operates to the highest welfare statements and that’s critically important.

“In the context of our European Union trade, we operate to the highest standards, not just EU standards but EU Plus standards and we do that because the importance of that sector to the Irish agri-food economy is so significant.”

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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. 

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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.