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Team Badger in talks
Cull opposers mobilise support at meeting

Campaigners from Team Badger are set to meet on Saturday, April 22 to speak against the badger cull plans.

Among those speaking at the event, which will be held at Somerset's Taunton Conference Centre, will be rockstar and RSPCA vice-president Brian May.

Other speakers include Gavin Grant,
RSPCA chief executive, Joe Duckworth, chief executive of League Against Cruel Sports and Steve Jones, a retired dairy farmer who led the "Not in this farm's name" campaign.

The meeting is planned to mobilise support in opposition of the impending pilot badger cull, due to begin in Gloucestershire and Somerset within eight weeks.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has organised the cull in an effort to help eradicate the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

However, opposition surrounds both scientific and welfare reasons, according to the RSCPA.

While the charity says it sympathises with farmers who are dealing with the devastating disease, it believes a cull will do little to help eradicate bTB in cattle – and could even make it worse.

RSPCA is therefore willing to work with the farming community to "deliver more effective alternatives".

"We urge anyone who wants to help save the badger and help cattle to join us at this meeting," said Mr Grant.

"As plans stand, thousands of badgers will die – virtually eliminating them from large areas of the countryside. Yet the problems of bTB will not be solved."

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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
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.