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RCVS announce new vice-president
Chris Tufnell
Chris hopes that his experience and outlook as a practitoner 'on the ground' will shape his term in office.
Chris Tufnell elected during RCVS Council meeting

RCVS Council member Chris Tufnell has been elected as the next RCVS vice-president and will take up his position in July.

Chris, who is an equine practitioner from Newbury in Berkshire, was elected at the RCVS Council meeting on March 5. He will replace Dr Bradley Viner, who was elected as president for 2015/16.

After completing a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University, Chris worked for a year in Zambia before returning to study for a veterinary degree at Glasgow University.

Following his graduation in 1999, Chris worked in mixed practice in Hertfordshire, where he was exposed to the rigours of agricultural practice in an area of family farms. He now runs an equine and companion animal practice in Berkshire, which employs five vets and seven support staff.

As vice-president, Chris hopes that his experience and outlook as a practitoner 'on the ground' will shape his term in office.

He says: "Just as many others before me, it is the experience of the day-job which drives me to contribute to the work of the RCVS."

Subject to formal appointment, both Chris and Bradley will take up their positions at RCVS Day, the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day, on Friday, 10 July.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.