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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th September 2012
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Confidence badger cull will commence
The NFU are sure outstanding licensing issues will be resolved

The National Farmers Union (NFU) have said it is confident the outstanding issues remaining on the Gloucestershire badger control licence application will be resolved in time for culling to commence this autumn.

Though Natural England have already issued a provisional licence last week, a full licence cannot be granted until a number of details have been finalised. This means that culling cannot yet begin in the pilot area of West Gloucestershire.

Natural England still need to agree both upper and lower badger kill limits with the company set up to organise the culls. It also needs to complete training of those contractors who will perform the culling.

If the six-week cull is to take place this year, they need to begin by mid-October at the latest, in order to finish before the badger breeding season begins.

The NFU Gloucestershire chairman, Charles Mann, said: "We have now got to do our work to fulfil the licence conditions but I am confident it will start this autumn."

Despite legal challenges, both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England say they have no intention to delay piloting the culls.

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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."