Bluetongue Serotype 8 was detected in the SouthWest of England towards the end of last year's vector season and has since been confirmed in the SouthEast, including East Sussex.
The vaccine can be used during pregnancy and lactation and carries a zero-day withdrawal period.
Sarah Kearney, Product Manager at Virbac, said: "We understand the pressure livestock farmers are under regarding the threat of Bluetongue."
"By making Syvazul BTV 8 vaccine available now, we are enabling vets and farmers to implement vaccination protocols early, so providing the best possible defence for their animals."
The study, published in Veterinary Record, compared observations made during unloading with those carried out later in lairage holding pens1.
Over the course of the study, thousands of animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs, were observed at a UK abattoir.
The research was led by the RVC team including final-year veterinary student Sayaka Mochizuki and Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Public Health Kurt Arden, with assistance from Declan Arden from the University of Plymouth.
They found that observing animals during unloading significantly increased the detection of welfare issues such as lameness, slipping and falling.
Across all species, welfare problems were far more likely to be identified at this stage, with detection rates increasing more than tenfold in some cases.
This, say the researchers, is largely because issues become much easier to spot while the animals are in motion, rather than while they are stationary.
As a result, the research team propose a new, practical inspection approach called Animal-Based Measurement (ABMs), which implements simple visual checks during unloading to identify potential health issues.
Incorporating this strategy could enable vets to identify problems earlier, provide more effective feedback to farmers and transporters and take action to reduce suffering.
It also offers a straightforward, evidence-based way to improve food safety standards.
Importantly, this method can be implemented in real-world settings without disrupting abattoir operations.
Sayaka Mochizuki said: "Animal transport ultimately serves the human economic and commodity interests.
"While the experience is relatively brief, it defines the final moments of the lives of production animals and the nature of their death.
"We have a moral obligation to undertake this process as ethically as possible, and our proposal provides a simple but effective way toward a more improved norm."
Kurt Arden said: "Improving animal welfare does not always require complex solutions, sometimes all it requires is a new perspective.
"This study demonstrates how simple, practical changes can reduce suffering, and underscores the important role veterinary students play in producing research that delivers real-world impact."
Reference
The webinar will focus on how vaccination programmes can be successfully integrated into dairy herds.
The session will explore how the five-point cryptosporidiosis control plan can guide client discussions, how extended colostrum feeding can be implemented on-farm, and practical strategies covering hygiene, transition milk, and wider scour control.
Alex Cooper MRCVS from Fenton Vets (pictured) and his client, dairy farmer Lottie Wilson from Mountain Park Farm, Pembrokeshire, will talk about the challenges they faced with cryptosporidiosis and how they implemented management changes to overcome these issues, resulting in a herd now largely free from scour.
MSD Veterinary Adviser, Kat Baxter-Smith MRCVS, said: “Vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling cryptosporidiosis, and strong vaccine sales reflect the clear demand for effective on-farm solutions.
"This webinar will explore those challenges, share the latest research and provide first-hand farm experience to help vets move scour management from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.”
https://thewebinarvet.com/webinars/making-cryptosporidiosis-vaccination-work-on-farm-practical-insights-for-vets
The study, which was led by Beth Reilly, Senior Teaching Fellow in Small Ruminant Health and Flock Management at the RVC, and JP Crilly, Lecturer in Small Ruminant Health and Flock Management, used an anonymous online survey distributed to sheep farmers across the UK via social media, with 421 farmers taking part.
The findings showed that 88.8% of respondents had identified orf lesions in their sheep, despite which only 23.8% consulted a veterinarian when orf was suspected.
Farmers reported a median treatment cost of £5 per affected lamb and £100 per affected flock, highlighting the ongoing economic impact of the disease.
Although uncomplicated orf cases do not require antibiotic treatment, topical antibiotic sprays were the most reported treatment used by 65.2% of respondents, while 26.7% used injectable antibiotics and 22.7% reported using both injectable and topical antibiotics.
A total of 13.6% of respondents reported using salt licks as part of orf treatment practices.
Only 34.5% of respondents reported using pain relief in affected animals.
The study also highlighted important human health considerations.
Nearly a third of respondents reported having contracted orf themselves.
Those who reported wearing gloves some or all the time were significantly less likely to contract orf, with their likelihood of infection only 64% of those who never wore gloves.
The researchers say that discussions between sheep farmers and veterinarians should be encouraged to cover current treatment options for orf lesions, the zoonotic risk, the importance of ensuring that other diseases with similar clinical presentations are not overlooked and that antimicrobials are used only when necessary.
PORCILIS PCV M Hyo ID is a ready-to-use intradermal vaccine that protects against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo).
The vaccine can be mixed with PORCILIS Lawsonia ID and administered on the same day (though not mixed) with PORCILIS PRRS, allowing piglets to be protected against four diseases during a single intervention using MSD’s IDAL Twin needle-free device.
MSD says this will streamline vaccination protocols, with IDAL administration offering “less pain and stress for pigs”.
Needle-free administration is also designed to reduce the risk of iatrogenic transmission of pathogens between pigs and remove the risk of broken needles.
The vaccine combines PCV2 and M. hyo in a low-volume 0.2 ml dose and can be administered from three weeks of age, including in pregnant and lactating sows.
The survey is part an initiative designed to bring together the UK ruminant sector to co-develop a roadmap which will champion animal health and welfare solutions that promote and demonstrate responsible antibiotic stewardship.
It is also designed to find out exactly what ruminant antibiotic use data is needed at both farm-level and national reporting level so that data collected delivers value to farms and vet practices.
Mark Jelley, Chair of Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group (pictured) said: “Farmers are already required to record their purchase and use of veterinary medicines but turning this requirement into evidence of responsible use while also being confident that data is being used responsibly is challenging.
“Other food producing species in the UK can demonstrate their medicine use with confidence and many competitor nations are now legislating for this data collection too - the ruminant sector is at risk of being left behind.”
Anyone working in the UK ruminant sector - from vets and farmers to government employees and academics - is encouraged to complete the survey, which is open till 28th February 2026.
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/rvc/uk-ruminant-antibiotic-stewardship-roadmap
The webinar explores the practical application of thoracic ultrasound to support earlier, more accurate identification of BRD in the field.
The webinar demonstrates how integrating thoracic ultrasound into routine assessment can help clinicians identify cases earlier, target treatment more precisely and avoid the use of blanket metaphylaxis – supporting both herd health and antimicrobial stewardship.
George said: “Recent research suggests that nearly one third of UK dairy calves experience BRD and subclinical pneumonia, and a significant proportion may remain undiagnosed when assessed by clinical signs alone.
"One of the clearest indicators of pneumonia is lung consolidation.
"Thoracic ultrasound enables us to detect this early, grade its severity and provide a meaningful prognosis.
"It’s easy to do in the field with minimal patient preparation and gives a level of clarity that helps manage BRD much more effectively.”
Alongside the main webinar is a series of four bite-sized sessions which address common clinical scenarios, including when initiating antimicrobials is justified in BRD cases and how thoracic ultrasound can be used to monitor treatment progress.
Krka has also developed a new Vet2Vet Insight guide on creating an on-farm BRD protocol, together with a downloadable, editable template that practices can tailor to their own herd health plans.
https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub
The campaign aims to demonstrate the direct link between proactive parasite management and flock performance, while also providing tools for vets to engage farmers in conversations around worm control on-farm.
Fiona Hutchings (pictured), ruminant technical manager at Elanco Animal Health, said: “The Better Butt campaign encourages vets and farmers to work together to strategically plan mid- to late-season break doses and quarantine treatments, using the newer group wormers, such as Zolvix, to minimise worm burdens and support healthy growth.”
Fiona says the campaign advises farmers to move away from solely relying on visible signs of worm burdens before taking action, because lamb performance has already been compromised by the time visible signs are present: “Even the best stockman, or experienced sheep person, will struggle to spot an early worm burden, and by the time it’s visible, the burden is usually high.”
“Reductions of up to 50% in growth rates can occur before visible symptoms appear1, resulting in extended finishing times and higher feed demands.”
The campaign uses a traffic light system to help farmers understand worm burden impacts and encourages treatment interventions when animals tip into the amber zone.
“When lambs have a low worm burden, they’re in what we call the green zone, which means they have enough energy for both maintenance and growth.
“However, when this burden increases and they tip into the amber zone, this is when you’ll start noticing changes in the time taken for lambs to finish as worms begin to damage the gut meaning the lambs can’t utilise their feed as well.”
Fiona added: “Many sheep farmers are already doing a brilliant job of managing their stock, but we want to show them that there could be an opportunity to unlock more potential from their flock.”
https://farmanimal.elanco.com/en_gb/sheep/sheep-worms/zolvix-worth-every-penny
The company says the battery-operated, dual-speed clipper has been specifically designed for a close cut to improve hygiene and make treatments easier.
Hefin Rowlands from Heiniger said: “The Opal Xtend will help vets with accurate hair removal for everyday tasks such as TB testing.
"It has been developed to be quieter, which will reduce stress, and has an interchangeable battery system to enable uninterrupted operation during periods of extensive use.
“An LED battery indicator provides forewarning to operators and additional batteries can be swapped out quickly and easily.
"Each battery will last up to 4 hours and the second battery only takes just over an hour to recharge.”
Heiniger claims that at 415 grams, the clipper is one of the lightest cordless models available.
Hefin added: “It is particularly well suited to preparing animals for skin testing, wound treatments and scans including ultrasounds.”
Heiniger says the clipper is also a good fit for agricultural and equine users looking for a reliable and dependable machine that can stand up to demanding use.
https://www.heiniger.co.uk/product/opal-xtend/
The project, which launched in September 2022 and was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, has given subsidised respiratory pathogen investigations to over 300 farms so far.
The investigations revealed a mixture of agents, including: mycoplasma (37%), IBR (6%), P13 (12%), coronavirus (38%), histophilus (48%), RSV (30%), mannheimia (64%), and pasteurella (94%).
Following each investigation, discussions were held between farmer and vet about taking a more preventative approach, considering things like biosecurity, immunity, housing, environmental management, vaccination and treatment protocols.
CVS says the investigations have also enabled its vets to target the right vaccine to the right farm to cover the main risk periods for those animals.
Vaccinations have been timed in relation to peaks in clinical cases and pre-stress periods - such as weaning, group movements or transport to ensure animals are protected against the correct pathogen effectively.
CVS says that taking this preventative herd health measure has resulted in significantly fewer antibiotics being required to treat respiratory infection and disease in the past year.
Steven Carragher, Quality Improvement Farm Lead for CVS and Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Alnorthumbria Vets, said: “Though only running for just over two years, our programme is already yielding significant data, and we’re using this evidence to help each farm successfully implement a range of measures to help prevent and vaccinate against pneumonia – and to reduce antibiotic use.
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
The webinar, which is exclusively for veterinary professionals, will include a Q&A session addressing common concerns around vaccination timing, use in Johne’s-positive herds, the role of extended colostrum feeding, and the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Speakers for the event are:
Kat Baxter-Smith, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health (pictured), said: “Vaccination has an important role to play in cryptosporidiosis control, but we know that for some practices, concerns remain — particularly around colostrum management and use in herds with Johne’s.
“This session is about opening up those discussions, sharing the latest research, and addressing the barriers that may be holding back wider adoption.
"Our aim is to support vets in moving scour management from reaction to prevention.”
https://view6.workcast.net/register?cpak=7702733614498733
The company says the main breakthrough in this new authorisation is that the dose for cattle has been reduced from 4 ml to 2 ml, improving convenience and aligning with the latest regulatory data.
In cattle, the vaccine is indicated for active immunisation to reduce viraemia caused by BTV-3.
The onset of immunity is 3 weeks after completing the primary vaccination course.
The vaccine can be given to cattle from 2 months of age in naïve animals, or from 3 months if born to immune dams.
For the primary vaccination, two doses of 2ml are given, 3 weeks apart, intramuscularly.
In sheep, the vaccine is indicated for active immunisation to reduce viraemia, mortality, clinical signs and lesions caused by BTV-3.
The onset of immunity is 4 weeks after completing the primary vaccination course.
The vaccine can be given to sheep from 3 months of age, subcutaneously.
For the primary vaccination, one dose of 2 ml is given.
https://syva.es/en/
Julia, who came to the UK in 2016, graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2021.
She then completed a master’s degree in animal welfare in Canada, before returning to the UK to join Crowshall in 2024.
Her interest was initially in companion animals, but she decided to focus her career on animal welfare and population medicine.
The judges said: “She has quickly become a dynamic leader in poultry health and welfare, helping farms achieve dramatic reductions in antibiotic use and improved performance.
"Her commitment to evidence-based advice, education and industry advocacy has earned widespread recognition.”
Photo: Julia presented with her award by Shaun Williamson and Emily Wilton from Zoetis.
The solution is designed to streamline Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP) reviews, from on-farm sampling through to laboratory results, reporting, vet attestation and DEFRA compliance, by integrating faecal egg count testing at Sandhill Laboratories with the VetDX app,
VetDX says that by integrating every stage of the review process into a single digital workflow, the VetDX platform allows practices to carry out efficient, compliant visits with a reduced administrative burden.
Laura Eden MRCVS (pictured), farm animal vet at Bishopton Vets said: “What’s really improved the process for us is how straightforward it is to submit samples and how quickly we get results back from Sandhill.
"It takes a lot of the hassle out of coordinating AHWP visits and lets us focus on the clinical side.”
Rachel Kirkby MRCVS, Business Development Director at VetDX, said: “The AHWP is a real opportunity to tackle issues like anthelmintic resistance in a structured, funded way - but only if the process is workable on the ground.
"That’s why we’ve built the platform to fit naturally into how vets carry out these visits, supporting accurate on-farm data capture with features like in-app QR code scanning.
"It means lab results are securely linked to the right animals or groups, without the risk of transcription errors or lost paperwork.”
https://vetdxs.com
The webinar will be presented by Will Gratwick BVSc MMedVet MRCVS (pictured), veterinary surgeon at LLM Farm Vets in Shropshire and RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Cattle Health and Production.
Along with colleagues at LLM, Harper-Keele Vet School and VetPartners, Will carried out an Udder Cleft Dermatitis (UCD) prevalence and risk factors study which demonstrated that over 10% of cows are affected by the condition, drawing attention to the need for improved awareness and management of the condition.
The webinar will cover the causes and risk factors for UCD, as well as how vets can approach the diagnosis and management of this challenging condition in their clients' dairy herds.
To register, email Joely Plunkett, digital marketing manager at NoBACZ Healthcare, on j.plunkett@nobacz.com.
Unlike traditional PCR tests, Rhea molecular diagnostic tests need no lab equipment, allowing them to be used directly in the field.
The first panel test in the new range is Rhéa Vector-Borne Diseases, which simultaneously detects four major pathogens in under 40 minutes: Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp. (including A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum), and Borrelia spp.
Enalees says the Rhéa range addresses a growing need in the sector, enabling vets to act quickly and accurately.
https://www.enalees.com
The March 2025 Cattle Highlights Report from the Royal GD in the Netherlands has revealed that the proportion of paromomycin-resistant isolates has jumped from 48% in 2021 to 72% in 2024.
The report also highlights an increase in the detection of cryptosporidiosis in calves up to 14 days of age.
MSD says that while it is unclear whether paromomycin is being used to treat E.coli or cryptosporidiosis, the rising use of the antibiotic could be contributing to greater exposure and increased resistance in E.coli K99.
Kat Baxter-Smith MRCVS (pictured), a vet advisor at MSD Animal Health, said: “What we need now is a mindset shift—moving away from routine antibiotic use and towards a more robust, preventative management strategy.
“It’s not about eliminating treatment altogether but using it only when it is really needed.”
“Vaccination, clean pens, and ensuring that every calf receives the right volume and quality of colostrum are the real cornerstones of effective scour control.
“Using vaccines such as Bovilis Rotavec Corona for rotavirus, coronavirus, and E.coli and Bovilis Cryptium for Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most effective ways to reduce the incidence of neonatal diarrhoea.
"By vaccinating the dam, we ensure the calf has the best possible immunity at birth by ingesting the fortified colostrum and transition milk in the first days of life, which significantly reduces reliance on antibiotics and minimises disease risks.”
The report emphasises best-practice principles such as effective colostrum management, good hygiene and housing, balanced dry cow transition and strategic vaccination of the dam.
The report also recommends halofuginone (Halocur) as the first-line treatment for cryptosporidiosis, due to its targeted action and significantly lower risk of contributing to AMR.
Kat added: "By embracing these proactive strategies, vets and farmers can take a crucial step towards safeguarding calf health, reducing reliance on antibiotics, and combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.”
https://issuu.com/gezondheidsdienstvoordieren/docs/highlights_report_cattle-march_2025
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has also granted a marketing authorisation in exceptional circumstances (Article 25, 26 EU Reg 2019/6) for Bultavo 3 in Ireland.
The company says that so far, more than 40 million doses of Bultavo 3 have been distributed in Europe to help limit the spread of BTV-3.
Boehringer points to a recent field study published by the German reference laboratory Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), which showed that vaccination of sheep and cattle with Bultavo 3 induces immunity against the virus1.
According to the study, animals vaccinated with Bultavo 3 consistently showed evidence of a protective antibody response to BTV-3, although animals vaccinated with other BTV-3 vaccines did not1.
Boehringer says it is now compiling the data needed to obtain a full marketing authorisation in accordance with Article 8 of EU Regulation 2019/6.
Launching this spring, CVS says it's the only programme of its type in the veterinary sector.
The programme will be open to all of CVS's young vets and will operate within all 12 of its farm practices in the England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Each CVS farm graduate vet will be able to go on an exchange in their second year of the programme and every placement will last up to two weeks.
The subject matter of each exchange will be at the direction of the graduate rather than following a specific programme, so participating graduates have the freedom to explore their own areas of interest.
Anna Bruguera Sala, Programme Co-ordinator and vet at Alnorthumbria Farm Vets, said: “The major benefits of our new graduate exchange programme is that it is open to all young vets of different levels of experience and provides bespoke learning opportunities tailored to each individual.
"It will also create connections, so experienced colleagues can support an exchange student with their new skillset when they are back within their own practice.”
www.careerswithcvs.co.uk
Launched in 2023 to address the growing need for skilled farm vets, the VetPartners Farm Academy was created to provide more opportunities for future vets to gain hands-on experience.
VetPartners Farm Director Ian Cure said: “By opening up on-farm and simulated farm experiences to students, the academy aims to bridge the gap between veterinary education and practical farm work – ensuring a strong pipeline of talent into the industry.
“Designed by farm vets, for vets of the future, our three-day academy complements university education by providing veterinary students with a structured on-farm experience that builds confidence and prepares them for a career in farm practice.
“By welcoming students into the Farm Academy, we’re helping them develop the practical skills, confidence and knowledge needed to thrive in farm animal practice from day one.
"The academy also offers those students who haven’t had previous farm exposure the chance to try farm vetting for the first time.
“With the agricultural sector facing increasing pressures, from sustainability targets to animal health challenges, ensuring the next generation of farm vets is well-prepared is more important than ever.”
This year’s academy will take place at a VetPartners practice in Cornwall, from 14th to 16th June.
Students will receive training from experienced farm vets, and gain valuable skills in herd health, disease management, and sustainable livestock production.
The Farm Academy programme in 2025 will offer students:
To apply, send a CV and covering letter to farmsupport@vetpartners.co.uk
Applications close 25th April.
The new gel is made from natural resin combined with zinc salts which NoBACZ says provides both physical and microbial protection.
NoBACZ says that unlike water-based gels and sprays, including aerosols, that dilute in water and wash away, Ambugreen’s natural resin is hydrophobic which improves contact times between the product and the skin in wet conditions.
The gel barrier can be used anywhere on the skin where a bandage or spray has conventionally been used for protection, such as the management of lameness and to protect sore skin in livestock and to manage udder cleft issues in cows.
Ambugreen also offers fly protection and is suitable for use on all livestock, including copper-sensitive sheep breeds.
Dr David Charles, veterinary surgeon and international business development manager at NoBACZ Healthcare, said: “Ambugreen provides farmers with next generation protection for their livestock and is the perfect antibiotic-free tool to help protect wounds from bacterial ingress from the environment; enhancing the health and welfare of animals whilst preventing economic losses.”
Laura Donovan, veterinary surgeon and partner at Nantwich Farm Vets, adds: “We were lucky enough to have trialled Ambugreen with our dairy clients who have successfully used the gel barrier for udder cleft dermatitis and were very pleased with the results.”
www.nobacz.com
The company says farmers should be vaccinating their flocks to help protect the cohort of ewes that missed last year’s vaccination.
Flock replacements should also be vaccinated this summer ahead of tupping.
Shearlings (one year plus) and older can be vaccinated with Cevac Chlamydia within four months before tupping and no later than four weeks before the rams go in, while ewe lambs can be vaccinated from five months of age.
The vaccine should not be used in pregnant ewes.
Fiona Lovatt BVSc PhD FHEA DSHP DipECSRHM FRCVS from Flock Health Ltd said: “It is really good news to hear that there will be good availability of EAE vaccine this year.
"The lambing season started off with some disappointing news for some farmers who were not able to vaccinate last year as they faced EAE abortions.
"We are emphasising to these farmers and others that it is essential that the youngest two years of the ewes are vaccinated before next tupping to ensure that the cohort that missed last year’s vaccination are fully covered.”
https://ruminants.ceva.co.uk.
Led by Navaratnam Partheeban (Theeb) (pictured) OBE, Regional Head of Farm at IVC Evidensia, the programme is based on a methodology developed in the Netherlands.
The training focuses on the main behavioural indicators in cattle, helping vets and farmers assess health and welfare using basic senses such as looking, smelling, and feeling.
The one-day course includes a morning theory session followed by an on-farm practical session, equipping participants with skills to spot early signs of health or welfare issues before they become serious.
Theeb said: "Our goal is to train all our farm vets and vet techs in this approach, so they can provide even greater support to farmers.
"By integrating cow signals into routine practice, we can help farmers improve herd welfare, increase productivity, and contribute to more sustainable farming.
"Healthier cows live longer, produce more milk, and require less medical intervention.”
Petra Grabnar Rogers, Farm Veterinary Surgeon at Delaware Vets, an IVC Farm practice in Somerset, said: "The cow signals training has made a noticeable difference for our farmers.
"Being able to spot early signs of distress or health issues before they become bigger problems will help our farmers reduce vet visits and improve overall herd health.
"It's a simple yet effective approach that we hope will have a positive impact on the productivity of our farm clients."
IVC says that whilst this methodology is known in the UK, opportunities to receive formal training have traditionally been limited and it is the first corporate group to provide widespread cow signals training to all its farm vets.
The framework offers a structured career development pathway for equine and farm general practitioners over four levels, including a new role of Senior Veterinary Surgeon in General Practice.
The CVS Vet Career Progression Framework gives guidance on the experience, skills and competencies which need to be demonstrated at each of its four capability levels.
Level One is an entry level Graduate Vet, Level Two is a Progressive Vet, Level Three is an Experienced Vet and Level Four role is a Senior Veterinary Surgeon who is recognised as highly proficient and who will have a highly supportive and responsible position in practice.
The roles and responsibilities of the new CVS Equine and Farm Senior Veterinary Surgeons will include setting and maintain clinical standards in practice and leading clinical advancement initiatives.
They will also assist Clinical and Practice Directors with regulatory compliance and maintaining professional standards, act as role models and support Clinical and Practice Directors in delivering and monitoring the practice’s performance.
James Kennedy, Large Animal Director at CVS said: “A clearer career trajectory is needed for our equine and farm general practitioners.
"This new framework clearly outlines and roles and responsibilities each level will undertake, and offers vet colleagues a sustained and progressive development throughout their career with CVS.
"We feel the new Senior Veterinary Surgeon position and its accompanying rewards both recognises and harnesses the breadth of valuable skills and expertise that these very experienced veterinary colleagues bring to CVS.”
Mr Bowles faced four charges, but did not respond to the College's notification about the hearing, so the Committee decided to proceed in his absence.
The first charge was that in 2020, while attending a farm in Lincolnshire in his capacity as an Official Veterinarian (OV), Mr Bowles carried out Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin (ICT) tests on a herd of cattle but failed to measure the skin thickness of all the cattle using callipers and failed to take and record measurements for the cattle.
The Committee was provided with evidence that Mr Bowles had, in earlier correspondence with the College, admitted that he had failed to follow Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) standard operating procedures for ICT testing at the farm and so the charge was found proven.
The second charge was that he then certified the results of the inaccurate ICT test he'd performed earlier.
The Committee found this charge proven on the basis that, without using callipers to measure skin thickness, he was not entitled to certify the test.
The third charge was that his conduct in relation to the first two charges was dishonest, misleading and risked undermining government testing procedures designed to promote public health and animal welfare.
The Committee found all elements of the charges proven.
The final charge was that Mr Bowles's conduct took place despite warnings, advice and re-training being given by the APHA.
These included: a letter sent to Mr Bowles’s by APHA in 2014 about the suspension of his OV status after he failed to comply with APHA rules; a letter sent by the APHA to Mr Bowles’s employer in October 2016 regarding issues of non-compliance it had found during a September 2016 audit; and the suspension of Mr Bowles’s OV duties by his employer, pending further training, following issues of non-compliance.
Given Mr Bowles’s history of non-compliance with APHA standard operating procedures and standards, the Committee found the charge proven.
The Committee found that charges 1 to 3 amounted to serious professional misconduct but that charge 4, while making the conduct in the other charges more serious, did not in and of itself constitute serious professional misconduct.
In determining the most appropriate sanction for Mr Bowles, the Committee found that he had paid ‘scant regard’ to the testing procedures set out by APHA and breached the RCVS certification requirements set out in the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons in ‘numerous and serious’ ways.
Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee’s view is that the respondent’s conduct in refusing to follow the OV Instructions when testing cattle in May 2020 constituted conduct of an egregious kind.
"In addition, there are several aggravating elements which can be applied to his misconduct, including a risk to animal or human health; his lack of probity and integrity in certifying test results which he knew were non-compliant and unreliable; recklessness in reaching a conscious decision to ignore the OV Instructions; his failure to comply with the requirements of the position of trust and responsibility which attached to his APHA authorisation; and against a backdrop of sustained pattern of behaviour that displayed blatant disregard of the system that regulated TB testing by OVs.
"It follows that the respondent manifested no insight into the seriousness of his misconduct when acting as an OV.”
The Committee considered whether there were any mitigating factors regarding Mr Bowles’ conduct.
It took into account that Mr Bowles had not secured any financial advantage, that there was no actual harm to animals, and that he had a long career as a veterinary surgeon, although with a history of non-compliance.
It noted that there had been some late admissions of misconduct by Mr Bowles when he tendered an apology, but found this mitigation was undermined by the fact his explanations lacked consistency and that he had also initially asserted that he had used callipers during the testing.
Due to the seriousness of the non-compliance, the dishonesty and the potential risk to public health, the Committee considered that removing Mr Bowles from the Register was the only proportionate and appropriate response to the scale of misconduct.
Hilary added: “Given the amount of advice received and re-training which the respondent was required to undertake, he has already had ample opportunity to remediate his practice but has not done so.
"The Committee is therefore concerned that there is a very real risk of further repetition of this conduct in the future were he to be permitted to remain on the Register.
“The Committee’s concern in this regard stems from the fact that the dishonesty of which the respondent has been found guilty, was not dishonesty committed on the spur of the moment.
"The respondent had ample opportunities for reflection before resolving to act as he did.
"This places his acts of dishonesty in the most serious category.
“The public is entitled to expect that it can have confidence in the certifications of a veterinary surgeon who is carrying out a public duty on behalf of that public body.
"Indeed, that is the whole purpose behind the requirement that OVs undertake additional and specialised training before being permitted to undertake OV duties.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary