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NOAH updates medicine training for farmers
The updated training focuses more on areas such as vaccination and biosecurity.
The course now has a greater focus on disease prevention.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has updated its Animal Medicines Best Practice training for dairy, beef and sheep farmers.

The programme, created in partnership with the awarding organisation Lantra, provides farmers with training in the safe and responsible use of medicines.

The revised training puts more emphasis on biosecurity and disease prevention. It includes more on the measures that farmers can take to prevent diseases from entering their farms and the importance of high welfare standards.

The updated course also includes more information on using anthelmintics responsibly and the appropriate use of vaccines. The way the content is presented has been changed to make it more interactive for the user.

On successfully completing the course, a Certificate of Training is issued that can be used by farmers for Red Tractor assessment.

Dawn Howard, NOAH chief executive, said: “Years of collaborative work, focused on the responsible use of antibiotics, has shown how livestock farmers, working with their vets, can achieve ambitious targets and reduce the need to treat with antibiotics whilst maintaining the health and welfare of livestock.

“Our updated training will provide even greater support to farmers on disease prevention, through measures such as vaccination and biosecurity. UK farmers supply high quality, nutritious and safe food, and this programme will offer them even better support as they produce this food from healthy animals more sustainably.”

More information on the Animal Medicines Best Practice programme can be found on NOAH's 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.