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NOAH rewards top students during online event
Hafina John achieved the highest score out of all 51 students who took the exam in 2019.

Highest scorers recognised by animal health organisation

In its first ever virtual presentation, the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) honoured the top scoring students who obtained the NOAH Certificate of Animal Health (NCAH) in 2019.

The NCAH qualification is accredited by Harper Adams University (HAU) and provides animal medicines representatives with the knowledge and legal understanding to effectively support prescribers and sellers of animal medicines in compliance with the NOAH Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines.

Fifty-one students took the exam at HAU in 2019. Overall, the highest scoring student was Hafina John (pictured) from Dechra Veterinary Products. She said: “It was a great opportunity to boost confidence and technical understanding but also to reaffirm responsibilities, particularly in relation to the legal framework. I am proud to have achieved the NCAH, the qualification is a testament to the high standards across the animal health industry.”

Second place went to Maggie Watt from Ceva Animal Health and third place was Louis Burch, also from Dechra Veterinary Products. The winners were revealed by NOAH chair Jamie Brannan during the virtual event on 1 October.

Donal Murphy, head of international and regulatory affairs at NOAH said: “In what has proved to be a very challenging year, we are happy that we still had a way to honour the achievements of our top students for 2019. We are also pleased that we have agreed a way forward with HAU about virtual learning and qualification, for our next group of students, to start in before too long.”

Image (c) NOAH.

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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.