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Call For Farm Vets to Complete VDC Survey
Farms vets are being asked to fill in a survey on large animal practices in the UK.

The Veterinary Development Council has joined forces with the BVA to organise an online poll in order to identify the different types of business models used within large animal practices across the UK.

The VDC is charged with investigating the future of farm animal practice and its working group is headed by John Fishwick, the president of the BCVA.

He described the aim of the survey as aiming to get a "snapshot of the types of large animal practices that are out there in the UK - the plan is to then get a report together summarising the types of practice and their possible advantages and disadvantages."

The survey should take between 10 and 20 minutes. Questions include the proportion of practice turnover generated by private and Government work, as well as management models and out-of-hours cover.

Professor Fishwick urged vets to get involved, saying: "We're really anxious for as many practices to participate as possible."

You can access the survey here.

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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.