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BVA president welcomes new Welsh training hub
Sean Wensley
"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative" - Sean Wensley.

Aberystwyth University training hub will help prepare 'vets of tomorrow'
 
Plans to open a new training hub at Aberystwyth University were welcomed this week by the BVA's president, Sean Wensley.

He said that while new veterinary courses come with "risks and opportunities", the hub will help to safeguard animal health, promote animal welfare and better support Welsh farmers.

Last week, Aberystwyth and the RVC announced a joint veterinary medicine programme that would focus on farming and livestock.

Speaking to guests at the BVA's annual Welsh dinner yesterday (21 June), Mr Wensley said the programme will help to prepare future vets with the training, skills and knowledge for their varied roles.

"A new hub of veterinary expertise and excellence is an exciting initiative that brings together the right resources to deliver a range of potential training opportunities to Wales’ vets of tomorrow.

"There are of course both risks and opportunities in increasing the number of veterinary undergraduate courses - particularly in ensuring that there are good clinical career prospects for graduates – but this hub will help safeguard animal health; promote animal welfare; and better support the farmers and other animal owners we work with across Wales."

Mr Wensley also renewed calls to the Welsh government to reconsider its TB eradication programme. While quarterly data shows the number of Welsh herds under restriction is at its lowest point in 10 years, he warned that TB statistics can fluctuate, "…which is why we're continuing to urge the government to reconsider its eradication programme to include the targeted and humane culling of badgers, by means of cage trapping and shooting only, particularly in light of the suspension of the badger vaccination programme."

Addressing 70 delegates at the dinner, the president also recognised Wales's many successes in terms of animal welfare, including new legislation to tackle horse fly-grazing, irresponsible dog breeding and the creation of a code of practice for the use of snares in fox control.

 

Article amended as in a previous version 'training hub' was referred to as 'vet school'

 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.