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New technology to reduce number of chickens used in research
"Discovering a way to easily freeze avian reproductive cells and subsequently bring back a genetically diverse flock will help the preservation of endangered breeds of poultry".
Surrogacy method to support the creation of a new chicken biobank.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh are seeking to develop new technology that will limit the number of chickens used in research.

The approach involves freezing chicken reproductive cells and using sterile surrogates to hatch the required breeds. Researchers say this will ultimately support the formation of a new biobank, maintain genetic diversity and prevent problems with inbreeding.

The project is being conducted by researchers at The Roslin Institute and is being funded by the National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Dr Mike McGrew from the Roslin Institute said: “Discovering a way to easily freeze avian reproductive cells and subsequently bring back a genetically diverse flock will help the preservation of endangered breeds of poultry, increase food security from disease outbreaks and reduce the numbers of animals used in research.”

In the project, researchers aim to optimise how to freeze reproductive cells by studying three breeds of chicken currently used in research. They then hope to demonstrate that a single, surrogate chicken can lay eggs that come from many individual donor birds.

Scientists say this will validate the creation of biobanks for flocks of poultry for research purposes, which will limit the number of animals bred for use in this way. The novel method could also help to preserve rare chicken breeds.

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
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.