The Badger Trust's legal challenge to Defra's plans for targeted badger cull pilots has failed in the High Court on all three grounds.

Whilst the RSPCA has expressed its disappointment, the British Veterinary Association and British Cattle Veterinary Association have welcomed the judgement.

BVA President Carl Padgett said: "We are pleased that the High Court has ruled Defra's policy lawful and that the pilot badger culls can now go ahead.

"The BVA and BCVA believe that the government's approach has been robust and justifiable as it is based on our current scientific knowledge.

"Bovine TB is a devastating disease and we must tackle the disease in wildlife alongside cattle controls if we are to get on top of it."

David Bowles, the RSPCA's Director of Communications, said: "We are bitterly disappointed that the UK Government in England is ploughing on with plans to kill badgers but the fight is not over yet.

"We believe culling is not a long-term, sustainable solution and will be of little help in reducing the disease - perhaps even making things worse in some areas. It will wipe out huge numbers of this much-loved species, virtually eliminating badgers from these areas, including many animals which are healthy.

"It is not as if there aren't alternatives to a cull. Vaccination could be a more effective and sustainable way of dealing with the disease, and one which does not involve killing most of the badger population in very large areas of the countryside."

Millpledge has launched Promodulate Probiotic Powder, which, according to the company, combines beneficial bacteria with a pre-biotic, vitamins and electrolytes to rebalance gut flora, fluid and electrolyte balance in cats and dogs. 

The powder is presented in a 5 day course of sachets for ease of dispensing, or in a 50g tub for longer term use.

Millpledge says micro-encapsulated Entrococcus Faecium SF68 NCIMB 10415 - 667 x 106  CFU/g helps to recolonise the gut and maintain competitive exclusion of harmful bacteria whilst the preferred prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) provides a targeted source of sugars to fuel the Entrococcus Faecium. Electrolytes are included to help maintain the isotonic fluid balance in the patient, and vitamins to maintain the normal feed conversion ability of the gut to absorb and bind nutrients present in the diet.

Millpledge suggests that Promodulate is beneficial alongside antibiotic therapy and can be used as an aid to maintaining the immune response in newborns as well as animals in the later stages of life. Promodulate is also recommended as an aid to restoring normal digestive function and to help maintain normal cholesterol levels and electrolyte and fluid balance.

For more information, please click here.

WebLeC has launched a monthly online equine CPD service.

One hour live interactive sessions will take place every third Thursday at 7:30 pm. A single meeting costs £30 plus VAT, or savings can be made by taking out a flexible subscription that allows the user to choose any 12 meetings for the cost of 10 over a period of up to 24 months.

The next meeting is on 22nd September and is entitled: Colic Decision making: When to wake up the surgeon and what pain control to use. The presenter is Debra Archer form the University of Liverpool. Further details and registration links can be found at: http://www.ledstonequine.co.uk/weblec_lectures/colic.html

In addition, a recording of WebLeC's 6th meeting, which was held in partnership with BEVA and the VDS and dealt with the new guidelines and forms for pre-purchase examinations of horses, is now available to view free online at:  www.bitly.com/weblecbevaPPE. Use the password: b3va to get access, and you will receive a CPD certificate if you fill in the registration form.

WebLeC has also been asked to host BEVA's online CPD and will be announcing further details of their meetings soon.

Agria Pet Insurance has announced an 'age amnesty' in May, during which time the company will quote for cover regardless of the age of a pet.

The company says it is common for the owners of older pets to have difficulties finding insurance cover for older pets, and a lack of cover may be a barrier to presenting the animal for regular health checks and disease investigations.

Agria has been offering five weeks free pet insurance plus insurance quotes without an age limit for rehomed older pets from rehoming centres and charities for a year now, in order to give prospective rehomers greater confidence to take on the additional commitment of an older pet. 

The company says that opening up the offer to all pet owners through May offers a rare opportunity to insure potentially vulnerable senior dogs and cats.

Alastair Cook, Head of Sales and Marketing, said: "It'’s a great way to reinforce to clients how much you care. “The bond with an older pet is often special and it can be very distressing when they develop a condition that is going to require treatment on an ongoing basis. We don'’t want cost to be the pet owner’s biggest worry, or for people to feel that they can'’t afford to ask their veterinary practice for help. We'’re asking practices to reach out to pet owners and let them know about this time limited offer so we can help as many pets and people as possible.”"

Agria has produced an Age Amnesty waiting room poster, available on request by calling its veterinary helpline on 03330 30 83 90 or email admin.vet@agriapet.co.uk. Practices that work with charities are also encouraged to contact the company.

For more information, visit www.agriapet.co.uk/veterinary

Biomérieux has launched Vetfire, a PCR kit which it claims makes testing for equine infectious respiratory diseases easier and faster.

Biomérieux says the new test, which is used on the Biofire Spotfire System, detects seven infectious respiratory pathogens (six viruses and/or a strain of bacteria*), from a nasopharyngeal swab, in under 20 minutes.

The company says the new test’s ability to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections is important for ensuring antibiotics are used appropriately to reduce the risk of resistance.

Biomérieux says VetFire can be used to make informed decisions about when to isolate and treat animals when respiratory infections are suspected, to mitigate the impact of an outbreak in a contained area, such as a yard, by allowing rapid quarantine measures, and perhaps in time as a standard test ahead of animals travelling for competition, to ensure they are fit and healthy. 

VetFire is commercially available in United Kingdom, Ireland and France, with possible expansion plans to other countries in the near future.

https://www.biomerieux.com/corp/en/our-offer/clinical-products/vetfire.html 

*Equine Herpesvirus type 1, Equine Herpesvirus type 4, Influenza A, Equine Rhinovirus A, Equine Rhinovirus B, Equine Adenovirus 1, Streptococcus equi equi

The RCVS has issued a summary of the key decisions made at the June Council meeting. 

The summary is below, but for those who prefer, Nick Stace has done a four-minute piece to camera: 

24/7 & Postnominals
Council agreed in principal to changes to the supporting guidance of the Code of Professional Conduct regarding 24/7 emergency care and to put the brakes on a decision regarding the removal of all postnominals from the RCVS Register of Members.

Accounts
Also at the meeting, Council agreed to the 2013 Annual Report and Financial Statements, which is this year in a new format - the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005) - on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee. The Annual Report will be available to download shortly (www.rcvs.org.uk/publications).

In addition, Council agreed a freeze on retention fees for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses for 2015 - the fifth year in a row, and an effective decrease over this period of over £40 for veterinary surgeons.

Charter
Council also agreed to an amended version of the proposed new Royal Charter, which will now go to the AGM on 11 July 2014 for endorsement by members. The updated text, together with an explanation of the changes, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/newcharter.

Governance review
Nearly a year on from the introduction of the new Operational Board and other governance changes designed to streamline decision-making, Council took the opportunity to review how this new structure was working. It agreed that, going forward, the Operational Board would appoint members of all committees and that papers for Council meetings should include minutes of all committee meetings.

Council also agreed that the Operational Board should take responsibly for registration matters, which are currently within the remit of the Standards Committee. Terms of reference for the Audit and Risk, Specialist Recognition Appeals and Standards Committees will be revised. Whether the Education Committee should be responsible for all decisions on the recognition of registerable degrees (as opposed to Council in its entirety) will be discussed further at the November meeting of Council.

Registration Regulations
The planned discussion on updated Registration Regulations was postponed until the November meeting, as feedback is awaited from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Alternative dispute resolution
Council agreed to the trial of an alternative dispute resolution service to start before the end of the year. The service will help the College to deal with complaints which, while they do not give rise to issues of serious professional misconduct, may have some substance. The trial will be carried out with Ombudsman Services and will focus on concerns relating to small animals received by the Professional Conduct Department. It will be limited to no more than 150 cases at a cost not to exceed £120,000.

Risk Register
Council discussed and approved an updated Risk Register. The Risk Register is confidential.

Practice Standard Scheme update
Council gave approval for the general direction of travel of the review of the Practice Standards Scheme, including a new modular framework; an IT system that would be available to all practices, not just those in the Scheme; new training and assessment for inspectors; and increased practice fees to cover these developments.

Also at the meeting, Amanda Boag was elected Treasurer, a post she will take up at RCVS Day on 11 July.

Reports were also presented from the Audit and Risk, Education, Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Liaison, Standards, Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees, and the Veterinary Nurses Council.

Finally, on behalf of Council, President Neil Smith gave thanks to retiring Council members Christine Shield, Peter Robinson, Clare Tapsfield-Wright and Caroline Freedman, also thanking Peter Lees, in his absence.

More detail about these topics, and other issues discussed at Council, will be available in the minutes in due course. The papers for the Council meeting can be viewed at www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/rcvs-council/council-meetings/5-june-2014.

See also the June issue of RCVS News, which can be downloaded from www.rcvs.org.uk/publications shortly.

The successful trial of a new welfare assessment grid for zoological animals, published in the Veterinary Record, is set to improve their welfare, according to the authors.

Researchers from Marwell Zoo, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, trialled a series of monitoring strategies on primates and birds to help zookeepers ensure the health and safety of animals in their care.

According to the authors, the introduction of the practice over a period of 13 weeks at two zoological collections in the South of England, clearly demonstrated the level of physical and psychological wellbeing of the animals, and the effect of certain interventions.

The welfare assessment grid requires daily monitoring of a range of factors, such as the animals' physical condition, their psychological wellbeing and the quality of the environment, as well as the daily procedures they experience. These factors were not all previously part of the regular health checks that zookeepers were required to assess when they were undertaking animal welfare audits. In each area the primates and birds were scored, helping to monitor their progress and highlight any potential problems.

Although welfare protection of zoo animals is enshrined in both European and domestic legislation, monitoring it comprehensively in zoos has proven difficult due to the absence of clear and consistent guidance.

Sarah Wolfensohn, Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Surrey, said: "Ensuring a high standard of animal welfare is paramount for any zoo, but it has not always been possible. This innovative system will give zookeepers clear guidance on what they should be looking out for in terms of physical and psychological characteristics in animals, which will help monitor their overall wellbeing.

"Zoos are a key part of educating us all about our environment and the animals we share it with across the world, and we all want to know that the animals we do see in zoos are being given the best possible care for their welfare."

Reference

1. Adaptation of the animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) for monitoring animal welfare in zoological collections. W. S. M. Justice, M. F. O'Brien, O. Szyszka, J. Shotton, J. E. M. Gilmour, P. Riordan and S. Wolfensohn. Veterinary Record. 181,43.

Photo: Amur Leopard ©2017 Marwell Wildlife

IVC Evidensia Farm Vets is rolling out a new training programme across all its UK practices to help vets and farmers better understand cow behaviour signals, with the aim of improving welfare and productivity.

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 University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences at Langford has opened a £2 million state-of-the-art dairy farm.

Wyndhurst Farm's dairy unit has undergone a major rebuild in order to provide a world-class practical teaching environment for around 600 veterinary students, as well as a facility that can be used to support research and the continual professional development of veterinary surgeons, farmers and others involved in the dairy industry locally, nationally and internationally.  

Professor Jo Price, Head of the School of Veterinary Sciences, said: "This is an exciting time for the Vet School. The new dairy unit will enable our undergraduate and postgraduate students to be taught in a world-class facility. It will provide the best standards of animal welfare for our dairy herd and will support our research on the prevention and treatment of diseases of farm animals."

The farm, which is approximately 250 acres, includes numerous features to ensure high welfare standards. The dairy herd will be housed in deep sand bedded cubicles, with parts of the floors covered in soft rubber to protect the cows' feet and when housed cows will be fed a total mixed ration using grass, maize and whole crop wheat silages grown on the farm.

Since the new facility has been built the farm's herd of Pedigree Holstein cows have increased in number from 110 to 180 cows and will soon reach 200, with each cow giving over 9,000 litres of milk per year. The farm also has a newly established breeding flock of 100 New Zealand Romney ewes. Since 2010 it has been managed by Velcourt Farm Management.

The Royal Veterinary College has been given a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) was introduced by the Government to build evidence about the performance of the UK’s higher education sector, with an analysis of teaching and learning outcomes.

Universities, colleges and alternative providers of higher education voluntarily took part in the TEF, and each provider was rated Gold, Silver or Bronze, or received a Provisional award where there was not enough data for a full assessment.

The TEF awards were decided by an independent panel of experts who measured excellence in three areas: teaching quality, the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: "I am delighted that the award of TEF Gold endorses and builds upon the RVC’s recognition as a global leader in veterinary education. As the only independent, internationally accredited school that offers education for the whole veterinary team, a commitment to delivering quality teaching is at the core of our business. The TEF Gold award is peer recognition that we meet the highest of standards, an achievement of which we can be justifiably proud."

Merial, the manufacturer of FRONTLINE Combo, FRONTLINE Spot On and Merilym3 has announced that Bill Oddie will front its autumn 'Be Tick Aware' PR campaign to highlight the importance of protecting pets from ticks.

The campaign will run throughout September and into October to drive awareness via print, broadcast and digital media.

Merial says the campaign has been designed to raise awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases amongst vets, pharmacists and SQPs and in turn to educate pet owners on the importance of regularly treating their pets for ticks.

The company is also continuing its partnership with BADA-UK, the tick-borne disease charity whose own demonstration dog, Shaun, recently suffered with Borreliosis (Lyme disease).

BADA-UK founder and Chair, Wendy Fox, said: "The infection highlights the very real risk of contracting tick borne diseases, even for the most well-cared for dogs and tick-aware owners. We find a lot of owners genuinely believe their dogs cannot get ticks because they keep their animals clean and well groomed. This sort of misconception is notable even at canine events where you might expect to encounter the best informed dog owners, but the sad fact is many people still do not take the risk of tick-borne diseases seriously enough."

Roddy Webster Head of Pets UK from Merial said: "It is a pleasure to work with Bill Oddie, a fellow animal lover and expert, to highlight the risk of ticks this autumn. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are an increasing threat, and the risk in the UK is rising. Ticks are considered to be second only to mosquitoes as vectors of infectious diseases around the world. Disease-transmitting ticks can be found anywhere - gardens, forests, parks and even beaches. This campaign is designed to encourage vets, pharmacists and SQPs to educate their clients and customers about ticks, the dangers of tick-borne disease and the importance of regular tick prevention. We're extremely excited about this campaign and we're looking forward to seeing the positive effects."

Ceva Animal Health, maker of the veterinary behaviour products DAP and Feliway, is once again sponsoring the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors' series of one day behaviour seminars to keep veterinary professionals up-to-date with companion animal behavioural issues.

Featuring presentations by top pet behaviourists, the seminars will cover a range of topics based on questions that pet owners frequently ask veterinary professionals in practice.   

Contributing to six hours CPD per event, the topics covered in the seminars are: 

• My dog is aggressive - what should I do? - Dr Rachel Casey - 13 May - South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire
• General 'house problems' with dogs and cats (part one) - Claire Hargrave - 10 June - Mere Golf and Country Club, near Manchester, Cheshire
• Breeds and their needs - Clare Wilson - 8 July - Henley Golf and Country Club, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
• 'Best practice' opportunities for practices regarding puppies - Clare Wilson - 9 September - Henley Golf and Country Club, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
• Common behavioural issues with small furries - Dr Anne McBride - 21 October - South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire
• General 'house problems' with dogs (part two) - Kendal Shepherd - 11 November - Mere Golf and Country Club, near Manchester, Cheshire

Places on the seminars cost from £70.  For further information, please contact the APBC on 01386 751151 or visit http://www.apbc.org.uk/

Royal Canin has announced that it will be launching something, it's not saying what, at 4:30pm on Friday 7th at BSAVA Congress on stand 611.

The company says there will be experts on hand to answer 'highly anticipated' questions about the new something. 

In addition, Royal Canin Weight Management Specialists will be on the stand to help veterinary professionals tackle the number of overweight and obese cats and dogs in the UK.

The company says it'll be providing guidance and training opportunities for veterinary surgeons and vet nurses seeking support on obese and overweight pets, helping them to carry out thorough assessments and implement tailor-made treatment programmes.

As part of its continued support of the Guide Dogs charity, visitors to the stand will also be able to have a go at reading special kibble braille signs and get tips on making veterinary services more accessible.