Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Vets to deliver ASF contingency planning workshops
'The threat of ASF is real, and one that should not be ignored- - AHDB.
The virus is already well established in parts of Europe.

Veterinary practices across England will be supporting pig producers in working with their vets to produce farm-level contingency plans for African Swine Fever (ASF).

The face-to-face training, which will run in conjunction with the National Pig Association, has been announced by AHDB to help ensure all levels of industry are prepared should an outbreak of ASF occur.

It will be delivered through a series of workshops covering the clinical signs of ASF, how it spreads and the knock-on effects to business and neighbouring farms. Participants will also work through contingency plans.

The AHDB hopes that having producers and vets working alongside each other will help to streamline the process should the worst happen.

It notes: 'The threat of ASF is real, and one that should not be ignored. It is a virus that affects pigs and wild boar, can result in high mortality rates and is already well established in parts of Europe. When it hits, it hits hard.

'Preparation is key to understanding and mitigating some of the consequences should you find yourself on an affected premises or inside a control zone following an outbreak of not just ASF but any notifiable disease, such as foot-and-mouth.

'It is why we are stepping up our efforts to get more producers to develop contingency plans in conjunction with their vets'.

Plans to roll out the training to vets across the country will be announced though a ‘through the trainer’ session at the upcoming Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) autumn meeting.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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."