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.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 5th August 2014
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

Calls for cattle TB test before movement to Wales
cow
The TB eradication programme in Wales aims to prevent the spread of disease through movement of cattle.
Deputy minister says current arrangements could pose a threat to Welsh farmers

The Welsh deputy minister for agriculture and fisheries has called for cattle being transported from England to Wales to be tested for TB to help control the spread of the disease.

Deputy minister Rebecca Evans has written to Defra secretary of state Liz Truss  claiming current bovine TB pre-movement testing arrangements in England could be posing a risk to farmers in Wales.

The letter highlights that Welsh farmers are concerned about the movement of non tested cattle from England and asks for the removal of a pre-movement testing exemption for those cattle tested every three to four years.

Rebecca Evans said: "All herds in Wales are subject to an annual bovine TB test but, as things stand currently, a considerable number of herds in low risk areas in England are only tested once every four years. While I appreciate the testing regime in England has been designed to reflect the local disease picture, it does mean that cattle can potentially be moved from England into Wales without ever having been tested for TB.

"One of the primary aims of our Welsh TB Eradication Programme is to prevent the disease spreading through cattle movement. Our increased testing regime means that where there is disease we are able to find it early and take decisive action to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Allowing animals which may not have been tested to move into Wales poses a risk to disease control and could potentially undermine our efforts to eradicate this devastating disease.

"Welsh farmers seeking to buy cattle from England have significant power as purchasers, and they can help by making it clear that they are only interested in buying cattle from England which has been pre-movement tested."

 The letter was prompted by a case earlier this year where cattle moved from Cumbria to numerous premises in the UK subsequently tested positive for bovine TB. 

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

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.