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Views sought on calves with bovine respiratory disease
Researchers are seeking views on bovine respiratory disease in cattle to inform the development of a new quality-of-life tool.
Findings will help researchers develop a new quality-of-life tool.

Researchers at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) are seeking views from the profession on methods to ensure the quality of life in cattle.

It is hoped that the findings from the survey will inform the development of a new tool to assess the quality of life of calves with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). 

Researchers said the tool will be similar to other health-related quality-of-life tools (HRQoL), used for other species to capture how the disease 'feels' to the animal. This would be a major advancement in detecting disease and would ultimately lead to better treatments, care and outcomes for calves, they added.

SRUC researcher David Bell said: “At this time of year, respiratory disease can be an issue on farms. While there are a number of clinical methods to assess respiratory disease, to be able to fully understand the impact of disease on the animal, a method for measuring quality of life is needed. 

“We are conducting a short survey to gauge how useful and valid specific indicators are in the assessment of quality of life. Participating in this and giving your opinion will help us establish what is useful for assessing the overall well-being of calves with respiratory disease.”

Beef and dairy farmers, calf rearing units, consultants and vets are all invited to take part in the survey. Responses close on 25 January.

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
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Vivienne Mackinnon elected BVA Scottish Branch President

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has elected Vivienne Mackinnon as its new BVA Scottish Branch president.

Dr Mackinnon has over 30 years of experience in veterinary care, encompassing both small animal and mixed practice. She has worked in practices in Scotland, England, New Zealand and Australia, before joining APHA to work in frontline disease control.

In her speech, Dr Mackinnon reflected on the changes in Scotland's veterinary industry and highlighted her commitment to veterinary education.

Dr Mackinnon said: "I look forward to working with colleagues across the veterinary professions to improve animal health and welfare in the country and support veterinary workplaces."