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Motorbiking vets raise thousands for Ukraine
The group regularly travel miles on their motorbikes to provide CPD lectures while raising funds for charity.

Vets with Horsepower helped BEVA reach their £20,000 target.

Vets with Horsepower, a charity group of equine vets with a passion for motorbiking, have helped the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) reach their £20,000 target to help veterinary surgeons in Ukraine.

The group raised £9,922 by travelling 1,600 miles from Northern Germany, across Scandinavia and back to the UK. They provided educational events for equine veterinary surgeons along the way.

Vets with Horsepower was first organised by Professor Derek Knottenbelt after he won a Harley Davidson motorbike in a raffle. Professor Knottenbelt decided to learn to ride the bike and, after discovering a passion for it, brought together other equine veterinary surgeons with a love of motorbiking to form the charitable group.

The group now regularly travel miles on their motorbikes to provide CPD lectures to equine veterinary surgeons, while simultaneously raising funds for various charities. They were awarded the Point of Light award by former Prime Minister Theresa May when she was in office.

Their latest fundraiser contributed towards BEVA’s Power for Ukraine initiative, which will help buy power generators for veterinary surgeons working in war-ravaged conditions in Ukraine. The generators will be transported to Poland, and will reach Ukraine in time for the winter.

BEVA Council member Alison Talbot said: “BEVA’s Power for Ukraine initiative is part of British Equestrians for Ukraine.

“Thanks to the generosity of equine vets in the UK we had just hit the halfway mark of raising £10,000, before Vets with Horsepower set off on their epic Scandinavian mission. We are so grateful for their donation of £9,922 which means we can now buy another five generators, to help twice as many vets and horses in extremely difficult circumstances during enforced power cuts.

“Thank you so much to Vets with Horsepower and to everyone who has donated to Power to Ukraine since we launched the campaign in February. I am proud to be a member of such a caring, brave and determined profession where we are able to come together to help colleagues and horses in need.”

To donate to BEVA Trust Power To Ukraine appeal, visit their JustGiving page.

Image (C) BEVA

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.