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DEFRA defend science behind culls
A former DEFRA adviser brands policy as "unacceptable"

The Humane Society International UK (HSI UK) has been backed in their campaign to stop DEFRA's badger culls this autumn.

Former head of wildlife diseases at the Central Science Laboratory, Chris Cheeseman, has issued a statement supporting HSI UK, claiming that the policy is "unacceptable".

Dr Cheeseman made his comments in an HSI UK video called "Kill the Cull, Not England's Badgers". The video also features comments from renowned names and organisation representatives alongside badger footage.

"This government claims that their policy is science-led but I'm afraid it's not," said Dr Cheeseman. "It could lead to the deaths of - using their figures - up to 130,000 badgers over a few years to achieve overall, at best, 16 percent reduction in cattle TB."

DEFRA have defended the science behind their policy, with a spokesperson saying that no country in the world where wildlife carries TB has eradicated the disease in cattle without tackling it in wildlife too.

"The science is clear," they added. "The latest results from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial have shown that, carried out over a sufficient area and for long enough, culling can reduce the spread of disease to cattle, with benefits remaining for years after the end of the culling period."

Though there have been a number of delays, including numerous legal challenges, the badger culls are set to begin any time now. They are planned to take place in West Gloucester and West Somerset - nearby where Dr Cheeseman has carried out extensive research on badgers.

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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."