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Rare breed of piglets born in UK
Pigs that resemble cartoon character Dumbo bred

A litter of Meishan, also known as Dumbo, piglets has been born in the UK - the first for over 30 years.

The rare piglets are the offspring of one of only three Meishans in the country and, when fully grown, will have very wrinkly faces and long black ears - hence the breed's nickname, Dumbo.

Meishans were imported into the UK from China more than three decades ago for research purposes and the breed has not been seen in the country again until last year.

In 2011, Linda McDonald Brown, public speaker and author of two pig books, was looking for a more unusual breed, not only to appeal to British smallholders and farmers, but also for families to keep as an outdoor pet.

When she and her husband came across the breed during a trip to the Netherlands, they brought two females and an unrelated boar back with them into the UK.

Meishans are known for being easy breeders and for having docile temperaments. In the USA and Canada they are often crossed with both commercial and traditional breeds to increase litter size and add succulence to meat.

The breed is known for having up to 25 piglets in a litter.

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA publishes Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice

The BSAVA has added a small animal nutrition advice booklet to its series of BSAVA guides.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice offers a resource for veterinary professionals to provide appropriate nutrition for animals. As well as maintaining the wellbeing of healthy pets, the guide explores how nutritional requirements change in times of illness and disease.

The guide is divided into five sections, which explore the importance of nutritional assessment; diet types; feeding at different life stages; feeding for specific situations; and feeding for specific diseases. Online resources are also in the BSAVA Library including client handouts and videos.

It is designed to be suitable for referencing, in-depth case planning and team training sessions.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice can be purchased online from the BSAVA store.