VetNI

Veterinary Northern Ireland

VSSCO Educational Bursary

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Applications invited for this £2000 Educational Bursary open to N.I. Veterinary Practitioners to further expertise in any field of clinical veterinary science. The award was founded by the Veterinary Surgeons Supply Company in 1982 to encourage practitioners to further their expertise in a chosen discipline or project.
Applications must be submitted by 15th November.
Full rules can be found HERE and an application form can be found HERE.

Red Tractor Dairy Standards Changes

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As you know Red Tractor assured dairy members will be assured against a new version of the standard (V4.2) from Tuesday 1st Oct. Over the past few weeks Red Tractor have been working to ensure all are aware of the changes and what this may mean in terms of changes to current practices/documentation etc prior to their next assessment. A summary document can found at this link
https://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/Farmers-7032.pdf?_=637007928013074058

Red Tractor have updated a number of the templates on the website to reflect the amends along with adding templates for any ‘new’ requirements– the library of templates can be accessed here
https://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/tools-and-library/templates

There is also an updated pre assessment checklist available which reflects the changes https://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/Farmers-7046.pdf?_=637045208286914680

Should you have any questions about any of the standards or changes please do come back to our Dairy Technical Manager Kate Cross kate.cross@redtractor.org.uk

Competition seeking two additional Members for the TB Eradication Partnership (TBEP)

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For information, please see the link below to the DAERA web page which provides details of a Public Appointments competition seeking two additional Members for the TB Eradication Partnership (TBEP). Applications must be received by 2:00pm on Friday 27 September.

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/appointment-two-additional-members-northern-ireland-tuberculosis-eradication-partnership-board

Change to notification period on DECOL for exporting animals and animal products from Northern Ireland

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From Wednesday 18th September 2019 all exporters will be required to provide a minimum of 1 full working days’ notice of the intended date of dispatch of the consignment from the dispatching premises.   In practice, this will mean restrictions on the future dates available when submitting your application.

For example, for applications made on Wednesday 4th September, the first available export date will be Friday 6th September. For applications made on Thursday 5th September, the first available export date will be Monday 9th September.

Applications will be accepted up until 11.59 pm on the date of application. Please note that the date of export currently required in step 1 of the DECOL application process is regarded as the date of loading and dispatch from the final premises of production and/or storage. It is not the date of shipment from a port in Northern Ireland. Thank you for your cooperation in compliance with these changes.

DAERA Trade Branch 

Sunshine and smiles at the NIVA Summer Social!

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A fantastic time was had at the NIVA Summer Social in beautiful Tollymore Forest Park. Thanks must go to Angie Drayne, supported by Janette Adams , for the nature walk – so much fascinating information was shared. Mandy and Gavin made everyone welcome at their gorgeous wee country pub, Dolly’s Brae Inn, and great BBQ food (oh, those salads!) was supplied by Alex Berry and served by Brian Berry of Simply Irresistible. The quiz was lively and competitive with great questions from quizmaster Stewart Holden that gradually sorted the front runners from the wooden-tops – thank you Stewart! Congratulations to the winning team “The Folks on the Hill” from Rathfriland vet clinic. Special commendation goes to Phil and Pauline Walsh who came second despite being the smallest team!! Lovely etched wooden spoons went to the team with the lowest score but we are too diplomatic to mention who took these home.
We are still counting the money made for Marie Curie in memory of Sam Nelson – thank you to all those who supported this event, either through draw ticket purchases or by turning up on the day. The big prize (a week in a choice of two luxury Donegal holiday cottages, Whispering Willows) was won by Annette Doyle with Gemma Daly winning the weekend in the beautiful Tollymore Gate Lodge. Thanks also to NIVA Council for their help on the day and to those who gave prizes for the draw and raffle – Fiona McFarland, The Vet Service, the Drayne family, Joanne at Virbac, Gavin and Mandy at Dolly’s Brae, Tim at Shanaghan Photography, Seamus O’Kane, the McFarland family, Sean from Botanica, CVS, Pollyanna’s Gift Shop, Julie from Idexx and Chris from Boehringer Ingelheim. Our sponsors also deserve recognition – Lintbells, Botanica, Lloyd & Cowan, IMV Imaging, McEvoy Hoofcare Ltd., IVC – thank you all!