Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Royal Veterinary College moves to instil confidence in food market
The RVC course will explain intensive livestock systems.
The RVC course will explain intensive livestock systems.

Free online course will explain intensive livestock systems

With consumer confidence "at an all time low" following the horse meat scandal, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has launched a free online course to explain how intensive livestock systems work.

The three week, part-time, flexible course focuses on how food is made safe, the costs of its production, and the people involved from the farm to the table.

There is a specific focus on the pork and egg sectors which have some of the most developed production systems in the agri-food sector.

The course only requires two or three hours a week of study time, and incorporates quizzes, video and live discussion as well as written course material.

A certificate will be given to all participants who complete the course.

Prof Stephen May, deputy principal at the RVC, said: “I am really excited to be involved with this novel and enterprising course, which is a first for the RVC.

"Food is a subject which is literally ‘a matter of life and death’ for us all, so it is important that all members of society can understand and contribute to the important debate on our food supply and its safety.”

Enrolment for Food for Thought - The truth about food systems will start on Monday (10 with the course running from February 24 to March 14.

For further information, or to self-enrol on the course, please visit academy.rvc.ac.uk/info

This course has been funded by the Advanced Training Partnership in Intensive Livestock Health and Production.

– This article initially made reference to the RCVS being involved in the course. This was an error and we apologise for any confusion.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.