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

Government launches consultation on bovine TB eradication strategy
"We welcome progress on new tools and measures such as a viable cattle vaccine." James Russell, BVA.

Vets and charities welcome plans to tackle disease and end badger culling

The Government has launched an eight-week consultation on its latest plans to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038.

The consultation is seeking views on a variety of proposals following the Government's response to the Godfray report. These include plans to phase out intensive badger culling through:

  • stopping issuing intensive cull licences for new areas after 2022
  • cutting short new licences after two or three years based on a review
  • restricting new supplementary cull licences to two years and not reissuing them afterwards
  • supporting badger vaccination in areas that have completed culls as an alternative to supplementary culling.

The Government stated that bTB vaccination trials will begin in the coming months, allowing work to accelerate towards planned deployment of a cattle vaccine by 2025.

In addition to the consultation, the Government has also called for views on possible future measures to accelerate bTB eradication in England, such as further improvements to testing, encouraging increased uptake of farm biosecurity measures and supporting responsible cattle movements.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) welcomed the new control plans, but cautioned that any next steps should be underpinned by scientific evidence before any of the proven tools are phased out.

BVA president James Russell said: “Steps to tackle bovine TB going forward must centre on empowering vets and farmers by supporting their pivotal relationship, through better and more timely data sharing and more autonomy for vets and farmers to deploy available tools.

“We recognise the importance of government, farmers and vets working together so it’s essential that the Government listens to the views of the profession and industry in planning the next phase. We will be responding to the consultation after seeking views from our members.”

In a statement RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood supported the government’s intention to phase out badger culling.

He added: “The RSPCA looks forward to contributing to this important consultation so that the badger cull can be phased out swiftly and permanently.

“However we note that culling licences will still be issued where the Chief Veterinary Officer determines that this is necessary and we have concerns with that. So we will be responding to this consultation robustly to ensure that this statement to end the culling means just that - an end to the cull.

To view the consultation, please click here.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.