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.
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

Ruminant wellbeing awards open for applications
Applications are now open for the biennial Ruminent Well-Being Awards.

Event will be held at the annual World Buiatrics Congress

Applications are now open for the biennial Ruminant Well-Being Awards, held by Boehringer Ingelheim in partnership with the World Association for Buiatrics.

The event will be held at the annual World Buiatrics Congress, which highlights the importance of vets in the continuous improvement of animal welfare for food-producing ruminants.

The next congress is due to take place in Madrid, Spain (September 27 to October 1, 2020). Applications will be accepted to two different awards: the Ruminant Well-Being Research Award and the Ruminant Well-Being Achievement Award. 


The Ruminant Well-Being Research Award will be granted to a recent PhD graduate in veterinary science, animal science or related disciplines that made an exceptional contribution to the scientific knowledge on ruminant wellbeing.

The recipient will have achieved either some or the following: 


  • improving the understanding of pain expression as well as the recognition of pain and other forms of suffering
  • developing scientific methods of measuring animal wellbeing, with potential practical applications
  • developing scientific-based strategies that improve animal wellbeing
  • identifying issues of concern and seeking solutions to challenges
  • developing methods to change human attitudes and behaviour to ensure proper stewardship.

The Ruminant Well-Being Achievement Award will be granted to a practising veterinary surgeon or a researcher in veterinary science, animal science or related disciplines to recognise his/her achievements in advancing the wellbeing of ruminants.

It rewards an individual that has contributed to the wellbeing of food-producing ruminants by achieving some of the following:


  • improving the understanding of pain expression as well as the recognition of pain and other forms of suffering
  • developing scientific methods of measuring animal wellbeing
  • developing practical wellbeing assessment methods
  • developing practical strategies to improve animal wellbeing
  • raising awareness of issues of concern; engaging different stakeholders in seeking solutions to challenges
  • changing human attitudes and behaviour to ensure proper stewardship
  • communicating information about, and proposing solutions to, animal well-being challenges with courage and integrity.


An independent panel of experts will select the winner under the supervision of Xavier Manteca, a professor in applied ethology at the University of Barcelona and founder of the Farm Animal Welfare Education Centre.

Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020. For the criteria and application forms, please visit farmanimalwellbeing.com

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.