VetNI

Veterinary Northern Ireland

Conference Hotel Accommodation is booking up FAST!

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Coming to the AVSPNI Spring Conference in the Armagh City Hotel?  Accommodation is filling up quickly this year and our advice would be to book your room ASAP to avoid disappointment!  The benefits of staying within the conference hotel are that you are right in the hub of the conference atmosphere, you only need to roll to bed after the legendary Friday night party night and essentially you will be well looked after with a good hearty breakfast the following morning!!

Hotel Accommodation
Book your rooms at the Armagh City Hotel by calling their reservation line
on 028 9038 5050 or 028 3751 8888, Option 1 or by e-mailing [email protected]

All rooms in the hotel are held for us on Friday night so you MUST tell the hotel you are attending the Vet Conference to secure a room.  Rates are:
£71 Single;     £84 Double/twin;     £120  – 2 bedroom apartments with shared bathroom, accommodating 2, 3 or 4 people

For other accommodation locally, see www.armagh.co.uk

For more information about the conference and our excellent speakers click here! 

To register your place for conference, complete a Registration Form

NI Vet & Beekeeper to deliver ‘Honeybee’ Webinar

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NI Vet and Beekeeper John Hill will be delivering a free webinar hosted by Webinar Vet at 8.30pm on the 9th February 2017.  Johns topic of ‘The remarkable world of the Honeybee’ will cover statistics on importance of bees to pollination, occupants of the hive, natural history, a few pests and diseases, future threats and BBVA.  John has a vast knowledge on the life and work of the honeybee and as the president of the BBVA, has a passion for Beekeeping and preserving this great species.  A webinar not to be missed! For More information Click Here!

 

 

Health Plans for CAFRE Business Development Groups

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Members of BDG’s can elect to have a herd/flock plan prepared by their PVP following a template plan. PVP are paid a direct fee for preparation of the plan paid by CAFRE on receipt of a completed plan. Some basic blood analysis are also covered with the farmer being reimbursed this cost on confirmation the test results have been reported.

BDG members have to indicate their interest to CAFRE initially and CAFRE will notify the practices of their interest.

Guidance notes and templates for Suckler Beef and Sheep can be sourced using the links below, dairy plans are being finalised and should be available by Monday 23 Jan. A list of contacts is included in the guidance notes. In the event that any of the link don’t work please contact Andrew Murray – 028 9442 6820 [email protected]

Guidance Notes – http://eservices.ruralni.gov.uk/docs/VetGuide.docx

S Beef plan – http://eservices.ruralni.gov.uk/docs/hplansbeef.docx

Sheep plan – http://eservices.ruralni.gov.uk/docs/hplansheep.docx

BVA are urging vets “keep backyard flocks safe”, as more Avian Flu cases confirmed

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Following announcements that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zones across Great Britain, in place since early December, will be extended until 28 February, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) are urging backyard poultry keepers to protect their flocks with practical biosecurity steps.

Over the last week, there have been several confirmed cases of the H5N8 strain of Avian Influenza in wild birds and backyard flocks in Carmarthenshire, Yorkshire and at a swannery in Dorset.

As private poultry keepers are faced with changing the way they usually keep their birds, BVA and BVPA are offering advice on sensible ways in which keepers can separate captive birds and backyard flocks from wild birds.

BVA and BVPA would recommend the following tips to keepers of captive birds and backyard flocks:

  • Read and act on Defra’s Avian Flu (bird flu) factsheet designed for keepers of small flocks of poultry, which includes helpful advice on protecting your birds
  • If you do not have a permanent building to house your birds in, think how you could adapt an outbuilding, such as a shed, or erect a temporary structure like a polytunnel using netting to prevent contact with wild birds – the key is to stop contact between wild birds and your flock
  • Think of your flock’s welfare while the prevention zone is in place: check for and remove any hazardous substances from any building where you are housing your birds; make sure there is natural light; and that the environment is interesting to reduce the risk of feather pecking by, for example, adding straw bales and perches
  • Remember that good biosecurity reduces the risk of infection: keep food and water supplies indoors where they cannot be contaminated by wild birds; feed your birds indoors and keep them away from standing water; keep movement in and out of enclosures to a minimum and scrupulously clean footwear before and after visits.

BVA President, Gudrun Ravetz, said:

“The confirmation of Avian Influenza in a number of small flocks shows the very real risk that the disease poses to backyard flocks and the importance of keeping them separate from wild birds. We know that not all backyard keepers will have to hand buildings that they can immediately house their flocks in, so Defra’s leaflet gives practicable advice on alternatives, including temporary structures.

“Biosecurity is also as important to smallholders and hobby keepers of birds as it is to large scale and commercial poultry keepers. Tight biosecurity, such as maintaining high levels of cleanliness and hygiene and not allowing visitors to come close to your birds, is essential.

“Signs of avian flu can vary between species of bird and could range from very mild signs like seeming ‘off colour’ or reduced feed or water intakes through to the severity of death.  If you are concerned about your flock, please speak to your local vet.”

BVPA President, David Welchman, said:

“BVA and BVPA’s advice to backyard poultry keepers mirrors the advice issued by governments in England, Scotland and Wales. It is important to keep backyard flocks safe and well during the current outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Europe. Thorough biosecurity is critical in reducing the risk of infection, and we cannot emphasise enough the current importance of keeping captive birds separate from wild birds. We are also very pleased that the Defra factsheet gives advice on how to maintain good welfare for your poultry during the Prevention Zone period so we’d urge keepers to read the factsheet and act on it.”

Anyone with suspicion of the disease in their birds should report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 0300 0200 301 immediately.

Watch out for wildlife crime!!!

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OPERATION RAPTOR – Put a STOP to the poisoning, Shooting and trapping of birds of prey!  The Partnership for action against wildlife crime in Northern Ireland (PAW NI) would like to remind veterinary staff that birds of prey are protected by law in Northern Ireland and suspected incidents of wildlife crime against birds of prey.  These crimes should be reported to the PSNI by calling 101.

For more information on how to stop this Click Here!

 

Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs and Armitage Flea Drops for Cats and Kittens: Product defect alert

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We have been made aware of a Product defect alert issued by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate relating to

Royal College Audit – Is your CPD up to date?

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The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) are asking vets to prove they are up to date with their CPD in an annual audit that they are currently carrying out.  Over 1400 vets will be asked if they have been keeping their skills and knowledge up to date by engaging in personal development (CPD) for a minimum of 105 hours over a rolling 3 year period.  This will be checked through their online Professional Development Record or by sending the RCVS a copy of their CPD record cards. 

If you are non compliant you will be asked to explain why this is the case and you will be asked to send a plan of how you will become up to date on your personal development.  All vets that are to be audited will find out at the beginning of September.  To find out more information about what counts towards CPD visit the RCVS website. 

If you are one of those who fear you are falling behind on your CPD points, why not take this opportunity to sign up for AVSPNI Autumn conference where you will receive a full weekend of great CPD with a packed programme of great speakers!

For full details on our up and coming conference Click Here!

For a delegate registration form Click Here!