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BVA announces Welsh Branch president
"I look forward to spending the next two years supporting the veterinary profession in Wales." - Phoebe McCarter.
Phoebe McCarter was welcomed at BVA’s AGM.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has officially welcomed new Welsh Branch president Phoebe McCarter to her role.

Dr McCarter’s appointment was announced at BVA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place at its Welsh Dinner on Tuesday, 24 June 2024.

A graduate from the University of Liverpool, Dr McCarter has become well known in the Welsh farming and veterinary communities for her work in rural practice.

In 2018, she left clinical practice as a veterinary advisor for the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS). She went on to join the Animal Plant Health Agency in 2021.

Dr McCarter is currently involved in exotic and endemic disease outbreak investigations as well as contingency planning. She is also responsible for training and stakeholder engagement.

She has been a member of the BVA since 2005, and joined the BVA Welsh Branch Council in 2020. Having sat as junior vice president for two years, Dr McCarter now takes over from previous president Gwen Rees.

Dr McCarter said: “I’m delighted to take on this vital role of Welsh Branch President and I look forward to spending the next two years supporting the veterinary profession in Wales.
 
In particular, I want to support the ongoing work to ensure that Wales remains a front runner in animal welfare and sustainable food production, not just in the UK, but on the global stage. I also think that it’s vital that we are as prepared as possible to face the threat of exotic disease incursion, and intend to make this one of the priorities of my Presidency.

“I would also like to both thank and congratulate Gwen for her outstanding term as president.” 

Elizabeth Mullineaux, BVA president, said: “Phoebe has already proved herself an invaluable member of the team during her time on Welsh Branch Council and more recently as junior vice president. I look forward to working with her even more closely.

“There remain many challenges on the horizon for Wales, from endemic diseases to veterinary capacity, and I’m delighted that we will benefit from Phoebe’s extensive understanding of the farming community here in Wales as we navigate these issues.”

Image © BVA

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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.