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Up to 50,000 horses 'disappeared' during scandal
horses
Horses started to disappear in 2008 during the financial meltdown and it is "probable" they ended up in the food chain.
Food fraud expert makes alarming revelation

As many as 50,000 horses across Europe are said to have 'disappeared' and most likely ended up in the food chain during the 2013 horse meat scandal.

The claims were made by food fraud expert Professor Chris Elliott at a recent conference at the Doncaster Racecourse.

Prof Elliott led the investigation into the 2013 horse meat scandal, where beef products were found to contain horse meat. His report was published in 2014.

Now, he is warning that the UK could face a similar scandal unless the authorities and police take action.

Speaking at the 2015 Fighting Food Fraud conference, Prof Elliot said horses started to disappear in 2008 during the financial meltdown and it is "probable" they ended up in the food chain.

Horse & Hound quotes him as saying: "2013 was a wake up call for the UK. With organised gangs becoming attracted into food fraud, we must act now to prevent public health threats.

"The idea that 50,000 horses could just disappear may seem incredible to some, but the scale at which some of these gangs can operate is huge."

Whilst he said that establishing a national food crime unit is a "good first step", a collaborative approach is needed to improve the tracking and auditing of the food supply chain.

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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."