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New initiative to support antibiotic stewardship in farm animals
Farm Vet Champions will be able to carry their status with them if they move between practices.

Online learning packages to be made available for farm animal vets and their practices

RCVS Knowledge has announced a new, collaborative project which aims to support UK farm animal veterinary professionals and their practice teams and encourage good antimicrobial stewardship.

The Farm Vet Champions project – funded by the Veterinary Medicines Doctorate (VMD) – will bring together a community of veterinary professionals and practices in the sheep and cattle sector.

The project will help them to implement material changes to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as well as supporting them in influencing future policy and procedures to improve the welfare of farm animals.

For first phase of the project RCVS Knowledge will build a group of representatives from major organisations, including BVA. The group will produce free, evidence-based online learning packages to help farm animal veterinary professionals take steps towards further improving antibiotic stewardship within their practices.

The group will be led by Fiona Lovatt, an RCVS recognised specialist in sheep health and production.

In the second phase, Farm Vet Champions can set SMART goals both individually and at practice level. An online platform will enable them to track progress towards these goals.

According to RCVS Knowledge, there is no limit to the amount of Farm Vet Champions within a practice. Professionals will also be able to carry their Farm Vet Champion status with them if they move between practices, helping to bolster antimicrobial prescribing stewardship throughout the profession.

Fiona Lovatt said: “I am really excited to be leading this crucially important project, which will be specifically designed to inspire and engage individual farm vets at the precise points that they interact with their clients, who often farm a mix of different livestock.

“The project is designed to build capacity, capability and confidence in veterinary professionals to engage with their clients in the application of good antibiotic stewardship. From a wider perspective, it will consolidate and strengthen collaboration across veterinary and livestock agricultural organisations as well as processors and retailers in the fulfilment of this hugely important common goal.”

To register your interest and receive updates please visit the RCVS Knowledge website.

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.