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Government urged to fulfil its animal welfare promises
The BVA recommends the use of animal welfare stewardship programme to financially support progress in animal health and welfare.
BVA calls for more detail on proposed animal welfare scheme

BVA president John Fishwick has called on the government to fulfil its promises on maintaining animal health and welfare post-Brexit.

Mr Fishwick said that “Brexit provides an opportunity to review our agricultural policy” and that recognising animals as public goods “will benefit producers, consumers and wider society”.

His comments come in response to Defra’s consultation paper on the future for food farming and the environment in a green Brexit. In the paper, Defra recognises that investing in animal welfare is a ‘public good’ that could be supported by a new policy that offers payments to farmers who deliver higher welfare outcomes.

However, the BVA said that more detail is needed on how such a policy could be realised. In its response to Defra, the organisation recommends the use of animal welfare stewardship programme to financially support progress in animal health and welfare.

It suggests a programme that would be based on the principles of the environment stewardship schemes which reward land management practices that benefit the environment. It would compensate for the additional costs of improving animal welfare outcomes, alongside providing incentives to support continuing and long-term investment into these activities.

Mr Fishwick said that animal health and welfare ‘underpin’ the reputation of UK agricultural produce.

“It is essential that these are supported as public goods in agricultural policy post-Brexit in a way that can make a positive and measurable impact on animal health and welfare,” he explained.

“Vets play a crucial role in UK agriculture, right throughout the animal’s life, then from the farm-gate through to trade certification. Working towards the highest welfare standards and monitoring disease are an essential component of this, so it’s vital that the government use veterinary expertise to best effect in the development and implementation of any new policy and plans.”

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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.