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Defra earmarks £65m for animal disease
cattle
The £65m spend will fund state-of-the-art labs and an upgrade for the Weybridge facilities.
BVA welcomes capital spend on lab improvements
 
Defra has pledged to invest around £65 million in laboratory improvements to boost the UK's resilience to animal disease.

The news was announced by secretary of state Liz Truss during a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference.

This investment will, she said, "bring us state-of-the-art laboratories and fund the upgrade of our bio-containment facilities at Weybridge, securing our ability to fight diseases like swine fever and avian flu".

Welcoming the news, BVA president Sean Wensley said: "It is encouraging to see the development of state of the art diagnostic facilities and we look forward to hearing more detail about how Surveillance 2014 will work in practice.

"In particular, we need further detail on how Defra will meet the pledge made at last year’s Conference to protect the number of vets working on the ground in order to provide the vital first line of surveillance."

Ms Truss also reiterated her commitment to tackling bovine TB, which includes her wish to extend the controversial badger cull to new areas this year.

"Thanks to the efforts and dedication of local farmers, all three areas - Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset - hit their target in 2015. The chief veterinary officer is clear this policy need to be followed over a wider area to secure full disease control benefits.

"That's why I announced, in line with his advice, I was to see culling in more areas this year.

"New cases of TB are levelling off, but we still have the highest rate in Europe. I will do whatever it takes to get rid of this terrible disease."

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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.