The North of Ireland Veterinary Association has formally opposed proposals to reduce payouts to farmers for the disease-related slaughter.

Seventeen nominations have been submitted for the annual contests to fill seats on the college’s council and VN council.

VetHelpDirect has added price lists for more than 1,600 veterinary practices, with fees for other services, such as prescriptions and out-of-hours, coming soon.

“It appears that this is becoming an increasing problem and needs addressing to prevent further attacks” – Andrew Parker, SPVS senior vice-president.

Future medicine supplies, work to eradicate bTB and animal welfare policy reform are among the priorities outlined following the restoration of the Stormont executive.

Alan Danielski, of The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, Marlow, investigated the effects of oblique proximal ulnar osteotomy on the healing of humeral intracondylar fissure in spaniels.

SPVS Congress told 3,000 vets registered as non-practising with RCVS and encouraging them back to clinical work key to addressing retention and recruitment challenges.

Bosses say the new facility will play a key role in training once a new course for VNs gets underway.

More needs to be done to explain the wider benefits of veterinary and animal wellness sector work, an industry forum was told.

Incidence of thoracolumbar invertebral disc extrusions found to be significantly higher, based on assessment of cases at two CVS referral hospitals.

Discussion, held as part of the annual SPVS Congress in Birmingham, also heard calls for the development of a framework to aid appropriate deployment of the technology.

Rising costs and new work streams have been highlighted as reasons for the proposal, which is currently awaiting final Government backing.

Duncan Phillips said regulation of the professions, together with ministerial attitudes towards it, have “simply not kept pace” with the rate of their transformation.

“Government has listened and responded to stakeholder concerns”, says NOAH chief executive.

The BVA has described the move as “an important step”, despite pressure from unionist politicians for even more dramatic steps.