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Kennel Club approves new DNA testing schemes
French bulldog
The Kennel Club has approved a new official DNA testing scheme for Degenerative Myelopthy (DM) in the French bulldog.

Breeders urged to utilise tests to make responsible breeding decisions 

The Kennel Club has approved two new DNA testing schemes following consultation with breed health coordinators.

The first is a new official DNA testing scheme for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) in the French bulldog. The second is for Degenerative Encephalopathy (DE) in the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever.  


Breeders are urged to utilise the tests in order to make responsible breeding decisions to further improve the health of these breeds.

"We constantly review DNA testing schemes in conjunction with breed clubs to ensure that breeders are supported with tools and resources which help them to breed healthy dogs, and to help give puppy buyers the best chance at buying a healthy puppy," explains Kennel Club secretary, Caroline Kisko.


"The Kennel Club continues to work alongside clubs and breed health coordinators, in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs and we are happy to accommodate a club's request to add a new DNA test to its lists."

Test results will be added to the dog's registration details, triggering the publication of the result in the next available Breeds Records Supplement.


The result will also appear on any new registration certificate issued for the dog and on the registration certificates of any future progeny of the dog. 


To find out which laboratories the Kennel Club is able to record results from, and which labs will send results to the Kennel Club, please refer to the worldwide DNA testing list at www.thekennelclub.org.


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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.