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Animal Magnetism
Cattle tend to orient their bodies in a north-south direction.
German scientists using images from Google Earth have found that grazing and resting cattle tend to orient their bodies in a north-south direction just like a compass needle.

Zoologists Sabine Begall and Hynek Burda of the University of Duisburg-Essen and their colleagues studied photographs of 8,510 cattle in 308 herds around the world. Two out of every three animals in the photos aligned themselves in a north-south direction.

Grazing animals are known to position themselves to minimise heat loss by wind or maximize their exposure to sunlight. However, the researchers say that weather did not affect their findings.

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk