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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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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.