John Fishwick

Preventing TB fraud

MANY colleagues will already be aware that evidence has emerged that a small number of farmers may have been illegally swapping cattle ear tags in order to retain highly productive TB reactors. As a result Defra Minister Jim Paice announced last week that from mid-April in England DNA tags will be inserted by Official Veterinarians (OVs) into the ears of cattle that test positive for TB at the time of disclosure. Although these arrangements will not apply in Scotland, there will of course be implications for members with clients that have cattle in England. At the time …

BVA’s position statement on CAVM

The new BVA position on complementary medicine was developed following lengthy discussions at both BVA Council and the Policy Committee. This process included presentations from representatives of the …

Is BVA stifling free-reigning ethical debate?

Paul Roger argues that the structure for debating and endorsing new policy decisions at BVA is not fit for purpose, and that this should be reviewed and adapted so that it can meet today’s demands.

Animal welfare impacts of badger culling operations

BVA supports a comprehensive approach to tackling bovine TB that should include control measures in cattle alongside simultaneous and coordinated measures in badgers, other wildlife and susceptible farmed species. Our policy on bovine TB control was developed through our committee structures with input from members and signed off by BVA’s Council. We are clear in …

Exports of non-stun meat: clarity and continued campaigning

BVA has been calling for a ban on non-stun slaughter in the UK for some time and the millions of animals whose welfare is still compromised by this practice each year remains a major concern.

Team Vet: working together

John Fishwick, BVA’s new President, introduces the theme he has chosen for his presidential year.

Welfare of chickens at slaughter

John Fishwick, BVA President and Lewis Grant, Veterinary Public Health Association President, respond: BVA believes that all animals should be effectively stunned before slaughter on animal welfare grounds, rendering the bird or animal unconscious and insensible to pain. However, in England, WATOK Regulations do not include any parameters for effective stunning of poultry killed ‘in accordance with religious rites’. The omission …

Dairy vet with global experience.

Having been born into a busy veterinary household, John Fishwick was advised to choose a non-veterinary career; however, as a teenager he ignored that advice, having decided that a veterinary career would suit him. He has worked in practice in the UK and abroad and is now head of the Department of Production and Population Health at the Royal Veterinary College

Survey of farm animal practice business models

THE Veterinary Development Council (VDC) was set up by the BVA in response to the recommendations of the Lowe report, which was published in 2009 and investigated the relationship between the veterinary profession and food production in the UK. …

Possible closure of VLA surveillance centres

THE British Cattle Veterinary Association has read with concern the report of possible closures in the network of Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) regional laboratories ([ VR , February 5, 2011, vol 168, p 117][1]). The VLA network has a vital role in ensuring the health and welfare of livestock