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

Sheep Veterinary Society appoints new president
From left to right, Joe Henry, Kim Hamer and Phillipa Page.

Kim Hamer takes over the role from Joe Henry.

Veterinary surgeon and academic clinician Kim Hamer has been appointed president of the Sheep Veterinary Society at its Autumn conference.

Kim succeeds Joe Henry, who has become senior vice president following the retirement of David Wilson from the committee. Farm veterinary surgeon Phillipa Page joins the officials as junior vice president.

Raised on the Welsh Borders in a farming and veterinary family, Kim is passionate about disease prevention, supporting farms and teaching students. Her work at the School of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow sees her involved in research and supervising residents at the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management.

Kim has extensive experience working in clinical practice, including eight years in mixed practice in the Welsh/English Borders, focusing on farm animal medicine and sheep preventative health.  She spent two years at the Farm Animal Practice at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, during which she co-authored Sheep Keeping as part of The Professional Smallholders Series with Phillipa Page. She is currently undertaking a PhD in veterinary ecology.

Kim's research encompasses a wide array of topics related to sheep health, including sheep parasitology, micro-mineral nutrition, and neurology. Currently, she is focused on antibiotic use in remote rural settings and exploring how a digital diagnostic decision-support tool could help improve clinical outcomes for sheep and goats in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Sheep Veterinary Society brings together all those interested in the welfare and production of sheep, including vets, flock owners and advisors from across the UK, Europe and the world. Members of the Society and Committee are actively engaged in various groups and initiatives, contributing to ideas and policies that will directly influence the future of the sheep farming industry. 

The Autumn Sheep Veterinary conference took place in Morpeth, Northumberland, 23-25 September. 

Image (C) Sheep Veterinary Society.

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

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.