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'Landmark' animal welfare strategy launches
french bulldog
"Brambell's report set in motion the now thriving field of animal welfare science - determining how animals perceive the world, and what they need and want from their perspectives."
Framework aims to help vets to promote welfare

A new animal welfare strategy launched by the BVA promises to help support vets as the advocates of animal welfare at individual, community and political levels.

Speaking at the annual London dinner yesterday (3 February), BVA president Sean Wensley said the strategy "sends a clear signal that the veterinary profession is, and will continue to be, a considerable force for good, for animals and for an increasingly compassionate society, in the years to come."

Over 50 years on from the Brambell Report (1965) and 10 years since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the field of animal welfare science is growing.

Increasingly, society expects the veterinary profession to lead debate and reflect new knowledge in their policies and practices.

"Brambell's report set in motion the now thriving field of animal welfare science - determining how animals perceive the world, and what they need and want from their perspectives," Mr Wensley added.

"In light of this new scientific understanding, society is increasingly examining how we ought to use and treat animals."

After an 18 month consultation, the BVA has released its strategy, which includes six priority areas for future action:

Animal welfare assessment - Promoting and applying tools for assessment, sharing research and publicising the importance of animal sentience to the profession

Ethics - Developing guidance, discussions and CPD to assist with ethical decision making, for example, balancing duties to animals, clients and employees

Legislation - Providing guidance and support on animal welfare legislation and its practical uses, including advice on reporting suspected animal welfare breaches such as non-accidental injuries

Advocacy - Reaching a consensus on the ways in which veterinary professionals feel it's appropriate to campaign for animal welfare improvements

Education - Assessing the delivery of animal welfare science, ethics and law, to undergraduates during the Day One Competences and Professional Development Phase

International - Forming partnerships with international vets and animal welfare organisations and promoting role and status of sentient animals


Read the full strategy here: http://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/News,_campaigns_and_policies/Policies/Ethics_and_welfare/BVA-animal-welfare-strategy-feb-2016.pdf

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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.