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Deadline approaches for poultry research grants
"I'd like to encourage everyone to take the opportunity for funded research into this area and help grow the evidence about poultry health and welfare" - Jane Howorth MBE.

BHWT offers funding opportunities to improve pet hen health.

The deadline is approaching for veterinary nurses and students to apply for a research grant funded by the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT).

Students and veterinary nurses can apply for a grant of up to £3,000 to research a topic on the behaviour and welfare of chickens, specifically to improve pet hen health. 

Six grants are available, and the application deadline for this round of grants is 15 July 2022.

Applications can be made via the online application form on the BHWT website, and must also include the CV of the principal applicant and any co-applicants, a summary of the research to be conducted, a summary of how the research will benefit pet hens, a letter of support from the head of department or practice principal, and approval from an Ethical Review Committee. 

The BHWT's desire to advance veterinary education on pet hens has also inspired the organisation to launch an online course on caring for poultry, which is aimed at veterinary surgeons and veterinary students.

Poultry Health, available for free on FutureLearn and created in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, features videos of surgical procedures on poultry, and a range of educational material on caring for poultry.

“As more people discover the joy of keeping hens as pets, the likelihood of a chicken being brought into your practice can only increase,” said Jane Howorth MBE, founder and CEO of the BHWT.

“We know that the veterinary curriculum doesn’t cover poultry in-depth; to plug that educational gap and help vets feel prepared for the possibility of caring for pet hen, we have created these research grants and online course.

“I’d like to encourage everyone to take the opportunity for funded research into this area and help grow the evidence about poultry health and welfare while gaining valuable, specialist experience and knowledge.”

Any veterinary nurses or students interested in applying for the research grants can visit the BHWT's website for further information. 

 

Image (C) The British Hen Welfare Trust

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.