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BVA president welcomes new Welsh training hub
Sean Wensley
"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative" - Sean Wensley.

Aberystwyth University training hub will help prepare 'vets of tomorrow'
 
Plans to open a new training hub at Aberystwyth University were welcomed this week by the BVA's president, Sean Wensley.

He said that while new veterinary courses come with "risks and opportunities", the hub will help to safeguard animal health, promote animal welfare and better support Welsh farmers.

Last week, Aberystwyth and the RVC announced a joint veterinary medicine programme that would focus on farming and livestock.

Speaking to guests at the BVA's annual Welsh dinner yesterday (21 June), Mr Wensley said the programme will help to prepare future vets with the training, skills and knowledge for their varied roles.

"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative that brings together the right resources to deliver a range of potential training opportunities to Wales’ vets of tomorrow.

"There are of course both risks and opportunities in increasing the number of veterinary undergraduate courses - particularly in ensuring that there are good clinical career prospects for graduates – but this hub will help safeguard animal health; promote animal welfare; and better support the farmers and other animal owners we work with across Wales."

Mr Wensley also renewed calls to the Welsh government to reconsider its TB eradication programme. While quarterly data shows the number of Welsh herds under restriction is at its lowest point in 10 years, he warned that TB statistics can fluctuate, "…which is why we're continuing to urge the government to reconsider its eradication programme to include the targeted and humane culling of badgers, by means of cage trapping and shooting only, particularly in light of the suspension of the badger vaccination programme."

Addressing 70 delegates at the dinner, the president also recognised Wales's many successes in terms of animal welfare, including new legislation to tackle horse fly-grazing, irresponsible dog breeding and the creation of a code of practice for the use of snares in fox control.

 

Article amended as in a previous version 'training hub' was referred to as 'vet school'

 

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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.