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Defra to launch badger vaccination scheme
badger
Defra will launch the vaccination scheme later this year.

Wildlife charities welcome scheme in TB hotspots

Defra has announced that a new Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS) will be launched later this year.

Wildlife charities including the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild have welcomed the move, which will allow charities and other organisations to apply for funding for badger vaccination in bovine TB hotspots.

Vaccination projects within the edge areas will be eligible for funding – these are Hampshire, East Sussex, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.

Commenting on the scheme, the Badger Trust's CEO Dominic Dyer said: "It's great to see the government pushing ahead with this scheme. We were helping to evolve a similar plan a year or more ago so it's fantastic that this scheme has taken shape and is being given the full backing of Defra.”

Environment secretary Liz Truss, who recently replaced Owen Paterson, has confirmed that the controversial badger culls will continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire this year.

It is reported that Natural England will monitor this year's culls, rather than an independent expert panel (IEP) as last year.

It was recently announced that the Badger Trust has been granted a judicial review by the High Court, allowing the charity to challenge the legality of conducting the culls without an independent body to monitor their safety, effectiveness and humaneness.

Defra has also revealed the Badger Vaccination Fund will be reopened for applications in 2014.

The BEVS is expected to involve longer term match funding and enhanced training. Criteria for funding and support is likely to require vaccination projects to be undertaken across a minimum area, every year, for a minimum number of years.

Defra says it is working with stakeholders to ensure the scheme offers the best opportunities for privately led, joint-funded vaccination projects.

Read the full Government information note: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-information-note-badger-vaccination-fund-2014

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.