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University of Surrey and Zoetis launch vHive 2.0
Researchers at vHive 2.0 will work to develop new innovations in animal health.
The partnership aims to improve animal health with digital technologies.

The University of Surrey and animal health company Zoetis have launched the latest incarnation of their Veterinary Health Innovation Engine (vHive) collaboration.

First launched in 2015, vHive allowed staff from the Zoetis Centre for Digital Innovation and academics from the University of Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine to collaborate on research into the use of digital technologies to improve animal health.

Expanding the partnership, vHive 2.0 will look at ways to apply new technologies from human healthcare, including artificial intelligence, big data and health informatics. It is hoped the research will lead to insights and solutions which will help veterinary professionals, pet owners and farmers.

The new tools already being developed as part of vHive 2.0 include analysing social media posts through social listening to find improved ways to support owners whose pets have common conditions.

The original vHive contributed to the work done by the African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement initiative (ALPHA) which has helped to tackle diseases and increase productivity for livestock farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Rimma Driscoll, executive vice-president and head of global strategy, commercial and business development, and Global BioDevices at Zoetis, said: “There is a very good complementarity on the expertise that Zoetis and University of Surrey are contributing to in this partnership towards innovation and forward-thinking technologies in this sector. We expect that vHive will benefit the agri-health industry tremendously and towards sustainability.”

Prof Tony Whetton, director of vHive, added: “To advance animal health, it is important to utilise all the available data and use it well with modern informatics methods. vHive will break down silos that have existed in the past, developing multidisciplinary research for improved animal health.”

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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.