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Culls to begin again in Northern Ireland
badger
Badgers in a pilot area will be trapped and tested. Those that test positive for bovine TB will be culled.
Second year of test, vaccinate or remove project

Badger culling is set to begin again in Northern Ireland as part of its test, vaccinate or remove (TVR) research project.

In year one, badgers were cage trapped, tested for bovine TB and released. This year, they will be re-trapped and tested in a focused pilot area. Those testing positive for TB will be culled using a lethal injection of barbiturate.

Data will be gathered on the reliability of the tests (sensitivity and specificity) to help inform future policy.

Simon Doherty, president of the BVA's NI branch, said: "We recognise that there are limitations in the diagnostic tests that are currently available for badgers and cattle and hope that the study will provide some quantification and validation for the deployment of these tests."

John Blackwell, BVA President, added: “There is no question that bovine TB is spread between badgers and cattle, but we still need to understand more about this complex disease in order to move towards eradication across the whole of the UK.
 
“BVA supports the use of targeted, humane badger culling and has called for it to be part of the comprehensive strategies in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, alongside strong cattle and biosecurity measures.

"All parts of the UK are taking a different approach to tackling bovine TB and we look forward to seeing the results of the TVR project as it progresses to help inform policies in other regions, as well as in Northern Ireland."
 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.