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Brucellosis testing regime to be reduced in NI
cattle
Currently, the Brucellosis Eradication Programme costs farmers an estimated £7 million a year in compliance costs.

CVO says: "We must not relax our attitude"

Northern Ireland's testing regime for brucellosis is set to be reduced ahead of schedule.

Announcing the news, agriculture minister Michelle O'Neill said biennial herd testing for beef cattle will be introduced from next week (29 June).

Changes will be phased in over the next few months.

This is expected to bring significant benefits to farmers and taxpayers.

"I anticipate major savings for industry, taxpayers and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) through the gradual dismantling of the brucellosis scheme as we move forward," Ms O'Neill said.


Currently, the Brucellosis Eradication Programme costs farmers an estimated £7 million a year in compliance costs and taxpayers around £8 million a year.

Brucellosis is a highly contagious cattle disease characterised by abortions. It can be transmitted to humans, with serious consequences for human health.

It has been more than three years since the last confirmed
brucellosis case in Northern Ireland. An application for officially brucellosis free (OBF) status is currently with the EU Commission. Brucellosis testing will continue for five years after OBF status is granted.

While the reduced testing has been welcomed by the government and veterinary associations, the chief veterinary officer Robert Huey stressed the importance of continued compliance with biosecurity advice and testing measures.

"We must not relax our attitude to the reporting of abortions or any suspicion of brucellosis," he warned.

An isolated case of BSE was recently confirmed on a farm in County Louth. BVA president John Blackwell said this shows vets and farmers "need to be ever vigilant against the incursion of disease. Now is not the time to be lax in that vigilance."

BVA and BVA Northern Ireland branch said the early reduction in testing requirements is a testament to the hard work of vets and farmers.

"This has taken real and effective partnerships between vets, farmers and government," Mr Blackwell commented.

 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.