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AHVLA Chief defends agency
Catherine Brown
EFRACom criticise IT issues

Chief Executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) Catherine Brown has been questioned by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRACom) after failures in upgrading the agency's SAM computer system have led to severe problems for farmers and vets in bTB hotspots.

When asked by EFRACom Chair Anne McIntosh (Conservative) if and when the problems would be resolved, Ms Brown (pictured) replied “They are not resolved yet. We are in the process of resolving them. We should have resolved them already, so my time scale is: it is extremely urgent to resolve the problems.”

“We should have been able to go live in September with it all working properly. There are some things we have done that make it not entirely just another case of us getting stuffed and spending a huge amount of money on something that has not worked.” she added.

However, Mr Neil Parish MP (Conservative), who was a farmer prior to his entry into politics, sharply criticised ‘huge problems getting licences to move cattle that are going to slaughter’ before asking Ms Brown “Bluntly, why is it that, in the 21st century, the Government put in a system that they pay good money for and it does not damn well work?” 

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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.