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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 25th January 2012
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NBA welcomes Badger Cull Pilot overseer

Chairman of independent expert panel announced

The National Beef Association (NBA) has welcomed the announcement that Professor Christopher Wathes has been appointed chairman of a panel of independent experts that will oversee the two English pilot badger culls. Professor Wathes is Professor of Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the current chair of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC). He is also a research scientist, with interests in environmental biology and the management of livestock and other animals. The appointment was made by Farming Minister Jim Paice MP, and it is understood that other panel members will be appointed in due course.

The independent panel will oversee the two six-week pilot badger culls in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset and will advise on the monitoring of the safety, effectiveness and humaneness of controlled shooting. The culls will start in Autumn 2012, and data gained during the culls will be studied to determine whether the policy of controlled shooting can be expanded to a further 10 locations a year from 2013 onwards.

Commenting, Professor Wathes said “Badger culling is a very sensitive issue which is why this group will be completely independent in the work they conduct. I will be joined by a selection of experts from a range of disciplines and our job will be to carefully consider the design and conduct of the pilots to enable a thorough examination of the humaneness, safety and effectiveness of the culling method being used.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."