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Over 4,000 badgers successfully vaccinated in Wales
Badger
“I am proud that Wales is leading the way on badger vaccination and that this remains the largest badger vaccination project ever undertaken in Great Britain."
Third year of Badger Vaccination Project completed

Over 1,300 badgers have been successfully vaccinated against bovine TB this year, the deputy minister for farming and food has announced.

The announcement takes the total number of vaccinations in the Intensive Action Area (IAA) to over 4,000 in the three years since the Badger Vaccination Project began.

Forming part of the Welsh Government's comprehensive TB eradication programme,  the vaccination project has received endorsement by the European Commission for the past five years for its approach which includes the use of annual TB testing of cattle, strict biosecurity measures and movement controls.

It is hoped that the project will develop a level of immunity against the disease in the badger population in the IAA.

Defra minister for farming and food, Rebecca Evans, said:  "Bovine TB is one of the biggest challenges facing Wales’ farming industry, and I am pleased to announce that we have completed the badger vaccination field operations for the third year within the Intensive Action Area.

"Participation in this project is voluntary and I am grateful to farmers and landowners for their continued cooperation in giving us access to their land. The vaccination work is undertaken in cycles lasting approximately three weeks - the first two weeks involve liaising with the landowner and preparatory work, and vaccination taking place in the third week.

“I am proud that Wales is leading the way on badger vaccination and that this remains the largest badger vaccination project ever undertaken in Great Britain."

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."