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BEVA appoints new president for 2023-2024
David Rendle (left) is succeeded by Roger Smith (right) as president.
Roger Smith has taken over the role.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced that Roger Smith has succeeded David Rendle as their new president.

Professor Roger Smith, a professor of equine orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, took over the role following the BEVA Congress on 16 September.

Bruce Bladon has been named president-elect, and Imogen Burrows has taken the role of junior vice president.

Alongside his new title as president of the BEVA, Professor Smith is a diplomate of the European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as a large animal imaging associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

In 2016 he awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contribution to knowledge, and in 2017 he was elected president of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons.

During his forthcoming year as BEVA president, Professor Smith has announced his intentions to build the BEVA’s international community, building upon his predecessor’s work with affiliate memberships.

Professor Smith has also voiced his concerns that having no requirement for veterinary students to ‘see practice’ will make it harder to showcase the career, and has raised his plans to increase recruitment and retention through the development of a career plan and complementary activities to encourage new veterinary surgeons.

His presidency will see him aim to empower equine nurses, giving them more involvement with patients in a move he says will alleviate the pressures from the current shortage of qualified equine veterinary surgeons.

He has also said that he plans to continue working on the BEVA’s CPD programme.

Professor Smith will remain president for a year, before the role is passed to president-elect Bruce Bladon.

Professor Smith said: “I am honoured to become BEVA president,

“While it is tough following on from some very effective presidents in the past, not least the outgoing president, David Rendle, I am really looking forward to spending time promoting BEVA’s activities, thanks to support from my work colleagues and the Royal Veterinary College.”

Nicola Housby-Skeggs, Helen Bickerton and Angela Jones join the BEVA council, with Kate Blakeman and Safia Barakzai also re-elected to council.

Image © @JasSansi

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.