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Cattle lungworm survey launched
The survey will remain open all year.
COWS wants to better understand treatment efficacy. 

The Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group has launched a new survey to discover more about the treatment of lungworm in the UK.

It follows an industry workshop last year, hosted by COWS and supported by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, where it was recognised that a standardised approach to assessing wormer efficacy was necessary.

Helen Carty, veterinary centre manager for Scotland's Rural College, explained: “In recent years, we have been aware of reports of suspected lack of efficacy of wormers to treat lungworm infections in cattle.

“But no-one is sure whether this due to growing resistance of lungworm to the wormers or is it solely down to poor administration, such as under-dosing or inappropriate timing?”

COWS hopes that the results of the survey will help them to learn more about when outbreaks of lungworm occur, the class of stock most affected, the clinical signs shown, and how well the cattle respond to treatment.

The survey will stay open throughout 2024. Veterinary surgeons can submit to it as many times as they wish to. The results will be published in 2025.

Ms Carty added: “We would like vets to supply information from lungworm outbreaks, tell us about any testing undertaken and response to treatment.

“We are not expecting to see a lot of survey forms coming in until the second half of the grazing season but want vets to be aware that the survey is available.”

The survey can be accessed here.

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.