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Campaign aims to boost farm animal welfare
Farm Animal Week encourages higher welfare products

A campaign run by the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme this week (July 15-21) is attempting to improve public knowledge of farm animal welfare.

As part of Farm Animal Week, people are being encouraged to find out more about how farm animals are reared, and to choose higher welfare products.

In honour of the campaign, shoppers are urged to swap one item in their shopping baskets for a higher welfare product, and Sainsbury's will be donating 5p to the RSPCA each time selected Freedom Food products are purchased.

To mark Farm Animal Week, Freedom Food also carried out a survey to find out how much people know about the welfare of farm animals.

The survey is reported to have revealed some strange results. For example, when given a list of delicacies, which included two spoof options, one in ten people who take part claimed to have eaten "chicken trotters", and 8 per cent said they had tasted "pig's wings".

Freedom Foods have called the results "worrying" and say it is time people reconnected with where their food comes from and the lives of the animals that produce it.

David Squair, chief executive of Freedom Foods, said: "If more people choose higher welfare labels like Freedom Food, more farmers will be encouraged to adopt higher welfare standards and more farm animals will have a better life."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.