Thought to be the first agreement of its kind between a buying group and a veterinary practice, Norfolk Farm Vets and agricultural purchasing group Anglia Farmers Limited have come together to offer mutual members and clients a beneficial discount on their monthly vet account when invoiced through Anglia Farmers. Anglia Farmers livestock manager Simon Leach said: "With more than 650 livestock members, Anglia Farmers is keen to give a financial edge wherever possible. Veterinary costs are as much a part of the overall costs we already help with such as feed, equipment and fencing. In terms of dairy, they account for around 0.8p a litre of milk, accumulating to an average of around £1,200 a month for a typical East Anglian dairy of 150 head. Our discount agreement with Norfolk Farm Vets is a very positive step in aiding our members to save even more money through Anglia Farmers."Both parties agree that the time and administration cost saving benefit is equally important.Molly McKay of Norfolk Farm Vets, which has clients throughout the Eastern Counties as well as Lincolnshire, said: "Anyone involved with livestock knows how time-consuming all the paperwork can be. Each month Anglia Farmers collates all the supplier invoices, sends them on to members as part of their monthly statement with a single covering invoice which is so much easier than receiving them piecemeal. And it streamlines administration and cashflow for us as well."
The National Office of Animal Health has completed its annual review of its Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines, and a number of changes will come into effect on 1st July 2011.
One change spells out the way antimicrobial medicines are promoted to farmers, with a firm emphasis on correct use and education.
Advertisers will be required to describe the condition the product is aiming to treat, and to promote an understanding of the treatment of the disease.
The phrase "use medicines responsibly" will always be included in text, making the voluntary strapline introduced in 2009 a formal part of the NOAH Code. As with all promotions to people other than prescribers, farmers will always be reminded to consult their veterinary surgeon.
Advertising text will always state clearly the name of the company and the brand being promoted, and promotion must not be designed to disguise its real nature.
Withdrawal periods for products will be stated, but these must not be unduly prominent and not in a font size greater than the body copy containing recommended dosage and species description.
The changes were proposed by NOAH within its formal response to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's consultation on the Veterinary Medicines Regulation 2010. The Minister decided in December 2010 to continue to allow the advertising of antimicrobial veterinary products to farmers.
Phil Sketchley, NOAH Chief Executive, said: "Whilst welcoming the Government's decision in December not to further restrict the advertising of animal medicines, we feel that the industry should take a proactive role to ensure the system works properly. We believe it is important for farmers, who are legally responsible for the health and welfare of their animals and the food produced from them, to be aware of the medicines that are available to protect the health of their animals, and at the same time we want them to know that these medicines must be prescribed and used responsibly.
"The issue of antimicrobial resistance is one that affects us all. The way to promote best practice is through education by maintaining all lines of communication between farmers, vets, scientists and animal medicine producers.
"Antibiotics are essential for maintaining the health and welfare of all animals, but like any medicine they need to be used responsibly in order to maintain their effectiveness, and their availability for future generations."
The Veterinary Marketing Association has announced details of a new award for public relations, open to veterinary practices and companies.
The VMA says this award is to recognise the value that media and public relations can add to the marketing mix. It will be awarded to the company or veterinary practice that has delivered the most innovative PR campaign during 2011, as judged by a panel of industry professionals.
Organiser Claire Edmunds said: "The VMA Awards has become a coveted event for those involved in the animal health industry to showcase their marketing achievements. A range of categories has evolved since the awards began over 20 years ago, for marketing, creative communication and new media campaigns. However, we felt that an award for PR was required to complete the marketing mix".
Jane Manning from award sponsor Splash Marketing & Communications said: "We felt it was time to give the opportunity for those involved in PR to obtain the recognition they deserve alongside their creative colleagues.
"An effective PR campaign can be a highly influential marketing tool, so it's great news that the VMA has added this new award category. We hope that companies and agencies serving the animal health sector will embrace this new opportunity to showcase their creativity and hard work".
The award is for the most innovative PR initiative published during the year. This can be a single 'one-off' event or article, or a sustained campaign over a given period. The winner and two highly commended entries will be awarded at the VMA Awards on Friday 9th March 2012 at Shakespeare's UnderGlobe Theatre, London.
Further information on the awards and ticket application forms are available at the VMA's website - http://www.vma.org.uk/ or by calling 0844 561 6157. The deadline for entries is Friday 27th January 2012.
Animalcare has launched a new broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antimicrobial (Enrofloxacin) which the company says is highly effective in the treatment of a wide range of conditions and easy to inject, with excellent tissue penetration.
Enrocare solution for injection is presented in three strengths: A 25mg/ml (2.5%) injection for dogs, cats and exotic animals including reptiles, small mammals and avian species. The 50mg/ml (5%) injection is licensed for use in cattle, pigs, dogs and cats, whilst the 100mg/ml (10%) injection is licensed for cattle and pigs. In the case of dogs and cats a single daily dose is needed.
Animalcare says it has priced Enrocare competitively. In addition, the range has been launched with three offers: "Buy one get one free on the 50 and 100mg/ml" and "Buy two get one free offer" on the 25mg/ml pack size. These offers will last for four months until the end of September.
In cattle, Enrocare 50mg/ml, given by the subcutaneous route, is licensed for respiratory disease of bacterial or mycoplasmal origin and the 100mg/ml strength is licenced for both respiratory disease and E.coli mastitis (the latter given by slow intravenous injection). According to Animalcare, its low dose volume makes it particularly suitable for the treatment of respiratory disease in calves. In pigs >25kg Enrocare is licensed for the treatment of the respiratory and alimentary tract diseases of bacterial or mycoplasmal origin and multi-factorial diseases such as atrophic rhinitis and enzootic pneumonia.
Tony Liepman, Animalcare Market Manager said: "The recent successful launch of Cephacare flavour raised Animalcare's profile as a supplier of more up-to-date antibiotics and this is our latest addition which offers excellent efficacy at an attractive price."
Pfizer VPS has launched a 'Pre-Sale Scab Treatment Certificate' so that sheep treated for sheep scab and protected against re-infestation beyond their autumn sale date can be formally certified as such.
A choice of two moxidectin-based treatments are eligible for use, one with 28 days and the other 60 days licensed persistency against the scab mite.
Pfizer VPS vet David Bartram explained that following treatment, the sale date must fall within the persistency window: "The idea is that farmers present their certificate at markets on sale day, then auctioneers announce the scab-protected status during their sales patter. Whether this adds to the sale price will be interesting to find out, but it's sure to be seen as a valuable attribute by buyers who won't need to treat for scab when they arrive home."
Details of the certification process are available from SQPs at animal medicine suppliers. The two eligible treatments are CYDECTIN 1% LA and CYDECTIN 2% LA for sheep.
BCF has released a new bovine foetal sexing quick guide as a free download from the farm animal learning section of the company's website - www.bcftechnology.com.
To help vets learn the skill of foetal sex determination with ultrasound, the guide includes:
BCF says that using ultrasound for foetal sex determination can be useful to herd management programmes: you can estimate the number of replacement heifers, further justify the culling of a cow with chronic disease (mastitis, lameness etc.) and determine pricing for a sale and/or purchase.
The guides have been created by BCF in-house vet Kimberley Palgrave who said: "The bovine foetal sexing guide was created with the aim of giving vets a few tips to help them develop confidence in foetal sex determination using ultrasound. Hopefully this guide can help people feel more assured in their technique and enable them to obtain additional information that the farmer can use in their herd management programme."
On top of that, over 25% of vets said they don't talk to their farmer clients about the disposal of empty pharmaceutical waste.
The survey also found that while veterinary surgeons are aware that both glass and shatterproof plastic vials are incinerated, over 65% of those questioned believed that glass vials were more environmentally friendly, when in fact, the company says its CLAS (Ceva Layered Anti Shatter) shatterproof plastic vials have 33% less impact on the environment from cradle to grave2.
Ceva is producing a range of support materials, including tailored social media and newsletter content, to help vets to raise awareness of their pharmaceutical waste disposal service and drive improvements across the industry.
Peter Keyte, ruminant business unit manager at Ceva Animal Health said: "As an industry we should be doing all that we can to improve our environmentally friendly credentials.
“Ceva will continue to invest in innovative eco-friendly technology for livestock injectables and pioneer improvements to help ensure best practice throughout the industry.”
For further information, or to request a pharmaceutical waste disposal service support pack, contact your local Ceva account manager or call 01494 781510.
References
Scientists from the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, UK Met Office and the Jersey State Veterinary Service and Jersey Meteorological Department, are working together on an early-warning system to help defend cattle against the spread of 'bluetongue' disease, according to a study published today in Weather.
The team is fusing meteorological data with ecological information to anticipate when disease carrying midges are likely to be carried on the wind from the continent to the UK and Channel Islands.
Lead author Dr Christopher J. Sanders from the Institute for Animal Health said: "The bluetongue virus, BTV, represents a major and unprecedented epidemic which has spread across Western Europe since 2006. While accurate estimates of costs incurred are not yet available, it is estimated that these could be in the order of many tens of millions of pounds."
BTV is carried by small biting midges, Culicoides, one of the smallest species of biting flies found on livestock. One bite from a midge fully infected with BTV can be enough to lead to infection in cattle and sheep, which can be fatal.
Since 1998 the range of the African species of biting midge has expanded from the Mediterranean basin resulting in an overlap with the range of European species. This enabled European species of midge to pick up virus from infected animals for the first time and go on to transmit it in Southern Europe. However, the arrival of BTV in northern Europe in 2006 was independent of this northwards movement of BTV, jumping north rather than from a gradual spread, and was reliant on transmission only by European midges common and widespread in the area.
In 2006 the disease was found in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany; 700 km north of previous European outbreaks. In June 2007 the disease was once again reported in Germany and by October 2008 24,000 cases were reported in France alone. In September 2007, the first cases of BTV were discovered in the UK, where fortunately the outbreak was small.
The danger that the disease may again spread to the UK from across the channel is of special concern to the Channel Island of Jersey, which maintains a world renowned cattle industry, but is at heightened risk of infection if the disease becomes established along the Cherbourg peninsula or the Normandy and Brittany coastline.
The risk comes from the possibility that the tiny midges can be carried on the wind from the French coast to the Island. To monitor this threat the team set up midge light traps in farms across the island to monitor midge activity and to identify the presence of any potential vector species.
The results were then collated and analysed alongside data from the Jersey Meteorological Department, which allowed the team to pinpoint when livestock were at risk from a number of locations on the mainland. This information was fed into the UK Met Office early-warning website which has also been used on the mainland to help predict and defend against the disease.
"Environmental conditions, especially temperature, wind speed and direction have a significant impact on the biting midge in terms of activity and abundance," concluded Sanders. "Monitoring the midge population in Jersey will provide the farming community on the mainland with knowledge of when the midge season commences in the diseased areas of the near continent."
Survey forms are available from Boehringer Ingelheim Territory Managers or the survey can be completed online at https://bovikalc.typeform.com/to/jVGllV.
There will be a prize draw amongst the completed entries for 20 Bovikalc metal applicators, outers or gilets.
The survey will try and assess the scale of the hypocalcaemia problem on dairy and beef farms as well as look at the impact it has on the farm and productivity.
Boehringer says milk fever is currently thought to affect between 4-9% of the UK’s dairy cows, with the subclinical form affecting up to 39%.1,2
The survey will provide another up-to-date figure to compare with existing data and look at any regional trends that might exist.
Farmers are being encouraged to complete the survey regardless of whether they believe milk fever is an issue on their farm or not.
Bovikalc Brand Manager, Mathieu Maignan said: "We are really keen to find out about the real-life experience of milk fever and what really matters to farmers so that we can use this knowledge to improve the approach to managing the condition."
Kath Aplin, Veterinary Adviser at Boehringer Ingelheim (pictured right), is hoping to find out more about the recognition of the signs of subclinical milk fever in particular. She said: "Milk fever is not always well recognised by farmers as a predisposing factor in a number of conditions associated around transition, in particular. It will be really interesting to see if they feel there is a connection between those conditions and low calcium levels and how this affects which animals they target with calcium supplementation and other interventions."
The survey will run until 31st August 2019. The results will be shared with the farming and veterinary community alongside any insights gained into ways to improve the approach to milk fever.
The RCVS has published a revised complaints procedure on RCVSonline.
The procedure represents the culmination of 12 months of work from the College's Preliminary Investigations Committee, with the aim of making the decision-making processes more transparent.
There are four information packs about the complaints procedure, all of which are available on RCVSonline. These are for complainants, veterinary surgeons who are complained about, those involved in decision-making at the RCVS and additional guidance for Lay Observers who provide independent, lay input to the process.
View an introduction to the RCVS complaints procedure and download the protocols by clicking here
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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.
Zoetis has announced the availability in the UK and Ireland of Poulvac IBQX, the first specific vaccine against the QX strain of the infectious bronchitis virus.
For the past two years the vaccine has only been available with a special import certificate from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for use on flocks where the QX virus has been isolated.
According to the company, this variant IB strain has been an increasing problem in European countries over the last 10 years and was first seen in the UK in South-East England in 2007. Since then QX has been isolated from a number of commercial layer and broiler flocks, leading to inferior performance and increased mortality.
James Porritt, Zoetis Poultry Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "Poulvac IB QX adds another protection dimension to our extensive IB vaccine portfolio. The Zoetis IB portfolio offers the widest choice and with Poulvac IBMM + ARK we have the UK's only bivalent live vaccine licensed for day-old use providing a Massachusetts strain and protection against 793/B/91 variant type strains lasting for six weeks post vaccination. Other IB Vaccines include Poulvac H120 and the UK's only other bivalent live vaccine Poulvac IB Primer."
Poulvac IB QX vaccine is based on a live attenuated virus and is administered as a coarse spray to broilers from day-old and to layer pullets or broiler breeders from seven days of age. Protection has been demonstrated by challenge study to last for 63 days after vaccination.
Zoetis says the vaccine is often used on the farm, but can be administered to chicks at the hatchery if adequate controls are in place to avoid spread to other chicks that will be moved to non-QX exposed flocks.
Dr Stuart Andrews, Poultry Veterinary Manager for Zoetis said: "In countering the QX virus strain some existing vaccines have been used to provide a degree of cross-protection. However, it is important to appreciate that Poulvac IB QX is a vaccine homologous to any IB QX field strain and so will provide even better protection.
"Furthermore, our in-house PCR and DNA sequencing service allows us to monitor carefully the field situation to ascertain which IB strains are currently causing field outbreaks and enable us to recommend adaptations to particular vaccination programmes.
"The full approval for the Poulvac vaccine will make it easier and more effective to tackle specific QX infections without having to apply for an import certificate."
According to the company, 88% of farmers say blowfly is the most widespread ectoparasite affecting sheep in the UK1 and 94% of sheep farmers have been caught out by the parasite in the past2.
The Met Office believes this winter may have been the warmest ever recorded, prompting fears that these favourable conditions will result in a more abundant blowfly population this year.
Fiona Anderson, Technical Consultant Manager at Elanco Animal Health, said: "It’s crucial we do not get complacent when it comes to blowfly – the costs of inaction can be devastating. It’s an extremely distressing disease to see in sheep, and obviously for the sheep themselves, so there’s no sense in taking the risk. Farmers should take control of the situation, before blowfly strikes their flock, by using preventative products with full fleece protection. Another benefit of using a preventative product early in the season is that killing flies from the first wave of the insects reduces the total number of flies for the rest of the season.
"Waiting for clear signs of the blowfly season before acting is a gamble. Farmers are extremely busy and blowfly strike can establish very quickly, so it would be very easy to miss an affected sheep."
Fiona added: "IGRs, such as CLiK and CLiKZiN, stop blowfly larvae developing into the harmful second and third stages that cause flystrike and stock damage. Using an IGR directly off shears saves time by avoiding the need to re-gather sheep and offering a longer period of protection."
For more information on blowfly strike and prevention with IGRs, visit www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk
VetSurgeon member Anthony Todd has started a petition amongst veterinary surgeons and nurses, calling for the installation and routine monitoring of CCTV in all pre-slaughter areas of licensed abattoirs in the UK.
The petition was triggered by a news report in the Daily Mail exposing shocking cruelty to pigs at an Essex slaughterhouse run by Cheale Meats. Staff were seen stubbing their cigarettes out on the pigs' faces, punching them and failing to stun the animals correctly, in undercover footage filmed by Animal Aid.
The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for breaches of welfare at abattoirs, has refused to submit the footage to Defra for prosecution, on the basis that it was filmed illegally.
Anthony said: "Prosecution will automatically follow with legal video evidence.
"The exposure of the Cheale incident was fortuitous and may well be the tip of the iceberg which must be eliminated."
To sign the petition, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/abbatoir-abuse/
BovIntel is software which, alongside the company's Easi-Scan:Go bovine ultrasound scanner, automatically identifies and measures important features on ultrasound images in real time as a vet carries out a scan.
The software uses colour to highlight and label structures such as follicles and corpus luteums, displaying the measurements of these to the nearest millimetre.
The technology has been designed to make the fertility scanning process easier and more accurate, helping vets give more informed breeding advice.
The developers behind BovIntel say the information that it provides will improve pregnancy rates and therefore overall productivity of dairy herds.
Alan Picken, Imaging Innovation Director said: “Pregnancy rates are notoriously low in the US and across Europe with as few as one in three inseminations producing a pregnancy.
"This is costing the industry time and money.
“Diagnostics on ovarian health is only possible through ultrasound and veterinary assessment, but not all vets are offering this service to their clients.
"BovIntel makes this ultrasound information more accessible to vets, and vastly increases the value and efficacy of the advice they provide to clients.
“Essentially, it enables a vet to quickly and accurately assess the ovarian health of a cow, so they can advise on how to achieve conception at the earliest opportunity.
"Equally, it allows them to quickly establish if a cow is unlikely to get pregnant and prevent a wasted insemination.”
IMV Technologies says new technology also promises to reduce the fertility scanning training time of newly qualified vets, by helping them to quickly find the ovaries during a scan and giving them confidence in interpreting ultrasound images.
Aland added “New vets will be able to practice independently faster and need the support of senior vets for less time, both of which brings huge benefits to their confidence and professional development and to the productivity of the business.”
IMV says the technology will also be useful for universities and research organisations investigating dairy cow reproductive health.
BovIntel is a software addition to IMV’s Go:Scan app.
It can be used via the viewing app, but also with BUG headsets, augmenting in colour for VGA and colour OLED. For users with mono BUG:Go headsets it will appear as grayscale on the headset screen, but in colour on the viewing app.
There's a 30-day free trial of the software for vets using the Go:Scan app, after which there is a choice of a subscription or pay-as-you-scan.
The government has confirmed that tests carried out on a poultry farm in Dunfirmline have indicated the presence of a notifiable strain of avian influenza.
At this stage, officials say that the clinical picture indicates that this is a low pathogenic strain which poses little risk to human health.
All birds at the premises - 40,000 according to the Daily Mail - will be humanely culled, and a 1km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place to prevent the movement of birds, carcasses and eggs.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "This suspected outbreak is further evidence of the vital surveillance role played by frontline vets in protecting animal and, by extension, human health. We commend the veterinary surgeon involved in detecting the outbreak in Fife, which has enabled a swift and effective response by the Scottish Government and all other organisations involved.
"We urge poultry keepers and vets working in the area to remain vigilant and to report any concerns to their local Animal Plant & Health Agency (APHA) office. We would like to emphasise that there is no food safety risk to the public."
Photo: RonaldDuncan at en.wikipedia
Merial has announced the launch of Nexus (http://merialnexus.co.uk), a new online information resource which offers large animal vets and Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) CPD training modules, webinars, technical articles, product information, marketing tools and support materials.
Victoria Hudson, Marketing Manager for Merial’s Large Animal Portfolio said: "We know that it can be difficult for busy vets and SQPs to find the time to attend CPD sessions in the evenings. Our new Nexus online portal gives access to resources and training modules that can help vets and SQPs stay up-to-date with the latest thinking, best practice, and enhance their knowledge in the field of large animal health at a time that suits them.
"Merial is committed to providing high quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD); bringing the knowledge, expertise and experience which backs up our well-known brands online, to help support professional development."
The Nexus portal includes a range of online courses and modules aimed at SQPS in particular, participation in which can earn AMTRA points. The company says it will be adding further CPD throughout the year, including AMTRA accredited courses.
Merial is offering the chance to win £200 in Amazon vouchers to eligible individuals who register at merialnexus.co.uk from now until the 22nd April 2016.
Mrs Jill Nute has been invested as president of the RCVS at the AGM and Awards Day, held on 4th July in London.
Mrs Nute graduated from Liverpool University in 1970 and initially assisted in mixed practice in the Lake District, Droitwich and Leominster. In 1976, she established a mixed practice with her husband Geoff, a fellow Liverpool graduate, in Wadebridge, Cornwall.
The practice is now an eight-veterinary surgeon concern, a veterinary nurse Training Practice, an RCVS Accredited Tier 2 Small Animal General Practice and Farm Animal General Practice, and an equine practice accredited to Tier 1; it is also a Meat Hygiene Service approved contractor.
Mrs Nute has been an RCVS Council member since 1993, serving on all of its committees. She has chaired many of these committees and additional working parties, including the Advisory and Public Affairs Committees. She served on the Officer team as Treasurer for three years, from 1996-1999, and is currently Chairman of the Practice Standards Group. Spending several years on the Councils of the British Veterinary Association and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS), she was elected President of SPVS in 1991.
RCVS Day also brought other changes to the RCVS Officer team: Dr Bob Moore, outgoing President, became Senior Vice-President, and Professor Sandy Trees took up the role of Junior Vice-President.
Professor Sheila Crispin stood down as Senior Vice-President, with Dr Moore commenting that: “The veterinary profession is privileged to have such a knowledgeable and committed advocate.”
Retiring Council members included David McDowell, Debby Reynolds, Neil Smith and Wendy Harrison. New lay observer to the Preliminary Investigation Committee, Catherine Harvey, will replace retiring observer Diane Mark. The President paid particular tribute to long-standing Council member and past-President Stephen Ware, who retires from Council but will remain active in veterinary politics as Vice-President and Treasurer of the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, he also remains Chairman of the RCVS Trust.
As part of the AGM, newly-elected Council members Richard Stephenson, Charles Gruchy and Bertie Ellis were welcomed. A fourth new member, Catherine Goldie, was not present. It was also announced that Professor Michael Herrtage and Professor Duncan Maskell have been reappointed for further four-year periods by the University of Cambridge, and Professor Sandy Tress has been reappointed for the same term by the University of Liverpool.
Dot Creighton was re-elected to the Veterinary Nurses Council and Katherine Kissick was elected for the first time. New lay member Penelope Swindlehurst and appointed veterinary surgeon Helen Torrington were also welcomed to the VN Council and the President thanked retiring VN Council members Diane Guinan, Donna Hunter and Neil Smith.
President Dr Bob Moore conferred a range of awards, including an Honorary Associateship upon Petplan and Petplan Trust founders Mrs Patsy Bloom and Mr David Simpson who, he said, have had a “remarkable effect on the veterinary profession, animals and their owners.”
Honorary Associateship was also awarded to Mr Geoff Davies, who has dedicated his 30-year career at the University of Bristol Veterinary School to the training, support and development of future veterinary surgeons. He has also served as a valued member of the RCVS Extra-Mural Studies Committee for many years. “It is his enormous contribution in supporting and encouraging the students that is being recognised today,”said Dr Moore.
Honorary Fellowships were awarded to Mr Gary Clayton Jones, Professor Paul Flecknell and Dr Christine Gibbs, and the Dame Olga Uvarov Award, a cash prize for a researcher under the age of 40, was awarded on behalf of the RCVS Trust to Dr Harriet Smythe (in her absence)
BVA has announced that it is launching a pilot of VETS.TV, and invites you to come and preview the service at its stand at BSAVA. Anyone willing to surrender their name and email address will also be entered into a prize draw to win an HP 530 Celeron M 440 laptop computer.
VETS.TV is an internet television site run jointly by the BVA and Ten Alps Publishing which will be available via a microsite of http://www.bva.co.uk/. The pilot includes custom-made videos on MRSA, litigation and stress management, a series of interviews with key veterinary figures and a number of specially acquired programmes.
Janssen Animal Health has made what I am told is a 'very large' donation of Ripercol, a pour-on 20% levamisole w/v broad spectrum anthelminitic for cattle, effective against gastro intestinal nematodes and lungworm, to the Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) – a UK registered charity (No.1100485) committed to improving the treatment and welfare of all animal species throughout the world.Nigel Underwood, Livestock Marketing Manager at Janssen said: 'We are very pleased to be able to help improve the health of animals in the developing countries and in turn to help those people who need it most. I’d encourage other pharmaceutical companies and practices to support WVS whenever they can, as they do a fantastic job.'Annie Cook, WVS Director of Veterinary Operations said: 'So far this year we have been able to help over 64 associated charities with nearly £73,000 worth of donated items. This incredibly generous donation of Ripercol from Janssen Animal Health will allow us to provide production animal welfare charities in India, East Africa and South America with a much needed resource'.WVS is currently arranging a Disaster Emergency Response team of veterinary professionals to visit the Internally Displaced People Camps in Kenya created following the election violence. Luke Gamble, WVS Chief Executive Officer, who will be coordinating the team said: 'The high concentration of animals in these camps combined with poor sanitation will promote the spread of disease between animals and is also a public health concern. Simply deworming these animals will improve their productivity and survival, which is vitally important as they are an essential resource to the people in the camps.'
Vetoquinol UK has launched Marbocyl Solo – a one shot treatment for Bovine Respiratory Disease. Marbocyl Solo is a 100mg/ml solution of marbofloxacin given as one injection IM at 8mg/kg. It treats sick animals fast, killing bacteria in one go, therefore minimising lung damage and consequential morbidity. This fast action reduces the risk of the spread of infection. On top of that, Marbocyl Solo has a meat withdrawal of only 3 days (milk 3 days). “Marbocyl is a well proven antibacterial that is extensively used in cattle practice,” explains Alvin Cerely, Marbocyl’s product manager. “Marbocyl Solo is exceptionally well placed for applying ‘concentration killing’ or a‘strike action’ strategy as opposed to a ‘long action’ strategy used by other antibiotics. Marbocyl Solo is available as a separate presentation to Marbocyl 10% to avoid confusion, particularly with farmers, on different dosage regimes and withdrawal periods.”
Marbocyl Solo is available now and details have been mailed to all cattle vets in the UK and Ireland. Please contact your Vetoquinol representative or telephone 0800 169 8197 for more details.
Bimeda has launched Recocam, a 20mg/ml meloxicam preparation licensed for use as a single injection course in cattle, horses and pigs.
Bimeda's Head of Technical Services, Padraig Hyland MVB said: "Meloxicam's anti-inflammatory credentials and safety profile is well proven and it remains rightly popular with large animal vets. With our manufacturing expertise it makes sense to add this widely used product to our portfolio. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive range of both established standards and new innovative products for cattle and equine vets, and this is just another step in that process."
Bimeda says Recocam has a broad range of indications including acute respiratory infections, in combination with oral re-hydration in diarrhoea therapy and acute mastitis, for non-infectious locomotor disorders and lameness in pigs and alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders and pain relief associated with equine colic. In cattle Recocam can be given by single subcutaneous or intravenous injection.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has launched its complimentary blood testing service that allows practitioners to investigate one of the main infectious causes of early embryo loss in sheep flocks.
The annual subsidised Barren EweCheck diagnostic scheme is available from 1st December 2010 until 31st March 2011 for breeding ewe flocks. The service establishes whether Toxoplasma gondii is potentially implicated in any empty or aborting ewes.
According to the company, data from the Barren EweCheck and FlockCheck 2010 schemes showed that 86% of flocks had been exposed to the toxoplasma parasite at some point before blood sampling. As a result, practitioners were able to give clients receiving a positive diagnosis timely advice on disease control and the benefits of a Toxovax vaccination regime.
The company anticipates full availability of Toxovax in 2011 and says its Barren EweCheck blood sample submission pads are available directly from the company's Veterinary Support Group by calling 01908 685685.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has granted MSD Animal Health a provisional UK marketing authorisation for Bovilis SBV, the first vaccine specifically targeting the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in cattle and sheep.
SBV, which emerged in late 2011, is transmitted via insect vectors, mainly midges and causes transient clinical symptoms in adult cattle and sheep, such as fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk yield, as well as congenital malformation in newborn calves and lambs. As of March 31st 2013, 1753 cases of SBV had been confirmed throughout the UK. SBV has now been detected in every county in England and Wales.
Andras Bolcskei, Country Manager, MSD Animal Health UK said: "On behalf of Merck MSD, we would like to thank the VMD for its partnership and support to fast track the availability of Bovilis SBV to the market. There was a tremendous urgency for a SBV vaccine in the UK especially given the marked increase in confirmed cases over the past year and the increasing importance to help control this devastating disease."
MSD says that studies it conducted in support of the provisional marketing authorisation showed that all animals responded with formation of virus neutralizing antibodies. During the studies, reduced viraemia against SBV was observed in sheep vaccinated once and prevention of viraemia was observed in cattle vaccinated twice, whereas all animals in the control groups developed infection and became viraemic. In studies to date, Bovilis SBV has been shown to be efficacious in cattle and sheep.
The vaccine is based on wild-type SBV that has been inactivated and contains an adjuvant that stimulates the immune response.
The vaccine will be available in 20ml and 100ml vials. Bovilis SBV is indicated for the active immunisation of cattle to prevent viraemia against SBV and for the active immunisation of sheep to reduce viraemia against SBV.
MSD says it is working diligently to expedite stocks to the UK, and expects Bovilis SBV to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks.