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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 11th September 2023
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SAGG launches ‘Healthy Feet Happy Sheep’ campaign
The campaign suggests that veterinary surgeons incorporate foot examinations into a tuberculosis or legal prescribing visit.

The campaign educates vets on sheep foot health.

The Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG) have launched the #HealthyFeetHappySheep campaign, to raise awareness for sheep foot health.

The industry-wide campaign, which was launched 7 September, sees a collaboration across the industry to educate and inform farmers and veterinary surgeons on all aspects of sheep foot health.

Veterinary surgeons will be able to access a downloadable toolkit on the website to support them with undertaking Healthy Feet flock visits, as well as the latest resources to help run Flock Health Clubs and sheep farmer meetings.

The campaign, led by SAGG, suggests that veterinary surgeons incorporate foot examinations into a tuberculosis or legal prescribing visit, and to utilise a Five Point Plan to prevent cases occurring.

There will also be short films featuring sheep veterinary surgeons Phillipa Page and Joe Angell, farmers from the HCC Stoc+ program and celebrity sheep farmer Gareth Wyn Jones.

The films will be released on social media and their website over the next few weeks.

Practices are encouraged to hold their own ‘Lameness Amnesty’ or ‘Healthy Feet week’ to spread awareness throughout the team.

The campaign involves partnership from organisations including MSD Animal Health, RCVS Knowledge and the Sheep Veterinary Society, and will run from September- December 2023.

Fiona Lovatt, an independent specialist sheep veterinary surgeon who developed the campaign, said: “We all know that maintaining healthy feet in flocks not only benefits sheep welfare but improves farmer well-being with less time, money and stress being diverted to dealing with lameness issues,

“A sound flock always means better flock sustainability and overall performance.

“We have plenty of evidence to show that we need to use injectable antibiotics to effectively treat lame sheep, but we are encouraging the use of ‘Plan Prevent Protect’ principles to reduce the chances of sheep going lame in the first place. Currently, the majority of antibiotics used in the sheep sector are for dealing with lameness, hence our emphasis on maintaining healthy feet.

The campaign will be hosted on the #HealthyFeetHappySheep website.

Image © Shutterstock

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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.