Vet News - September 2017
Vet News – September 2017
1. Mandatory CCTV in Slaughterhouses in England (and potentially Scotland and Wales)
In August the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove announced that English abattoirs will have to install CCTV in an effort to improve animal welfare. He also announced that official veterinarians will have unrestricted access to the footage. At the beginning of September, the Scottish Government announced that it will begin a consultation on implementing the same measures.
More information can be found:
- BVA
- BBC
2. Breeding is Vets’ Greatest Worry
A BVA survey found that vets’ biggest concern was the poor breeding of puppies. This can not only lead to health and behavioural issues but also welfare ones. The survey also highlighted worries about the breeding of brachycephalic breeds who can suffer severe respiratory issues due to their characteristic flat face.
More information can be found:
- BVA
3. Two Final Year Students Receive Prestigious BVA Travel Grant
Two final year students, one from Cambridge and one from the Royal Veterinary College, were announced as recipients of an overseas travel grant to support their projects. Dominic Clark’s (RVC) project focuses on the arrowhead dogfish on Limasawa Island in the Philippines focusing on the conservation of the species. Sara Robson (Cambridge) investigated bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in Ethiopian dairy herds and was also this year’s recipient of the Harry Steele-Bodger Memorial. Congratulations to both!
More information can be found:
- BVA
4. Tuberculosis Update
Northern Ireland have announced that they will be developing further measures to try and eradicate bovine TB. In England, DEFRA authorised eight new areas of badger control as well as launching an advisory scheme for affected farmers. The scheme will offer farm visits as well as a helpline for farmers. DEFRA hopes that this will help to eradicate and manage TB in England.
More information can be found:
- Farming Life
- DEFRA
5. Rise in Animals Killed Without Stunning.
Slaughter without stunning represents a massive welfare issue for thousands of farm animals every year. However, since the 2013 exemption notice for animals that are slaughtered for religious purposes, the number of animals that are being slaughtered without stunning has increased. For sheep and goats, it has increased from 15% to almost 25%. Many vets are campaigning for the re-introduction of a law that guarantees all animals will be stunned before slaughter
More information can be found:
- BVA