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BVA support for badger culls is "fragile"
badger
Mr Blackwell said he is disappointed that this year's culls were not monitored by an independent body.
President urges Defra not to take BVA's support for granted

BVA's president John Blackwell has implied the organisation may withdraw its support for badger culling unless it is shown to be humane, effective and safe.

"We have made it very clear to Defra that our ongoing support should not be taken for granted," said Mr Blackwell in a statement.

Pilot culls began in Gloucestershire and Somerset last year, with the support of the BVA. However, a report by an independent expert panel (IEP) found them to be inhumane and ineffective.

Mr Blackwell added: "We have made it clear that we cannot continue to support the use of controlled shooting to deliver culling unless it can be demonstrated that it can be delivered humanely, effectively and safely."

A number of recommendations were made by the panel, which BVA called on Defra to implement before giving its support to the second year of the culls. However, after repeated calls to the secretary of state, the 2014 culls were not monitored by an independent panel.

"It is no secret that some of our members are frustrated by the lack of independent analysis this year and we are disappointed that it has not been put in place to give confidence to our members and the wider public."

Some members criticised the BVA for its initial support for the culls, however Mr Blackwell said the association bases its positions on evidence, "reflecting the wide range of expertise within our membership".

BVA Council made the decision to continue supporting the culls in their second year, however Mr Blackwell said the association "always recognised that this was a fragile consensus".

When the data has been published by Defra, the BVA will carry out its own assessment to determine whether the second year of culls has been humane and effective.

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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.