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Chair in Sustainable Livestock Health and Welfare appointed at Harper and Keele Vet School
Dr Jonathan Statham (pictured) is chair of Bishopton Veterinary Group and CEO of Raft Solutions Ltd.

Dr Jonathan Statham will bring expertise to UK's newest vet school

Harper and Keele Veterinary School has announced the appointment of Dr Jonathan Statham MRCVS as Professor of Sustainable Livestock Health and Welfare.

Dr Statham is an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production, as well as chair of Bishopton Veterinary Group and CEO of Raft Solutions Ltd, an innovative veterinary research & consultancy company.

He is currently a member of the Animal Health & Welfare Board of England (AHWBE) and was previously president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).

Recently, Dr Statham gave a presentation at the United Nations Climate Change COP25 Conference in Madrid. He also gave an invited lecture tour in North America, presenting the work of both RAFT and it's collaborating partners.

Dr Statham will work with Harper and Keele to integrate sustainability into the teaching of production animal studies across the school's five-year programme. He will also be bringing his clinical and industry expertise to current and future research at both Harper Adams and Keele universities.

Commenting on his appointment as chair, Dr Statham said: “Sustainable livestock health and welfare is of critical importance as we strive to understand and manage the challenges presented by food security alongside mitigating the impacts on our environment.

“Veterinary surgeons working in effective partnership with our farming clients offer a vital role in managing this fundamental balance.

“Scientific evidence is essential in finding an effectively sustainable way forward and equipping the veterinary surgeons and farmers of the future with this evidence base and skills starting from their very first days at Harper-Keele is an enormous opportunity.”

Image (c) Harper and Keele Veterinary School.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."