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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 9th February 2012
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Badger Trust launch legal proceedings
Challenge to badger cull pilot program

The Badger Trust has informed the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that it will pursue a legal challenge if DEFRA does not retract the decision to sanction two pilot culls of badger this autumn in an effort to reduce the transmission of Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). DEFRA has until February 17th 2012 to respond.

David Williams, Chairman of the Badger Trust, has claimed that DEFRA have not addressed concerns that the cull could contribute towards the spread of disease. He also stated that the Trust believes such a cull to be unlawful. “If there is an opportunity to save many thousands of healthy badgers, as there is here, we must take it on behalf of the many local badger groups and supporters on whose behalf the Badger Trust works. If successful it would also save farmers the expense of a policy which would not benefit them.” he said. Mr Williams also confirmed that Badger Trust officials have personally met Ministers and have held 'several discussions'.

The Badger Trust's decision to launch legal proceedings was not an unexpected one. Farming Minister Jim Paice MP has consistently stated his belief that the Government fully expected a legal challenge to the policy of culling badgers and prepared legislation accordingly.

Mr Paice announced in January that two areas in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset had been designated as potential pilot cull areas. Groups of farmers in these areas can apply to Natural England for licences to cull badgers over areas of approximately 300 square kilometres. It is DEFRA's intention that the pilot programs will be monitored to determine the effectiveness, safety and humaneness of controlled shooting by trained marksmen.

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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."