British Cattle Veterinary Association - BCVA

Ruminant Health & Welfare says all three main BTV-3 vaccine suppliers are working to bring additional stock into the country in response to exceptional demand.

Boehringer Ingelheim is expecting a significant delivery this week, which is due to move into wholesalers next week, with further European stock also being explored for import over the coming weeks. Forecasts are being upped for next year with monthly deliveries planned into next year.

Virbac has already brought in additional European Syvazul stock from Northern Ireland and Spain, with German stock expected shortly. This supply is already sold, but significant supplies of GB-labelled vaccine will be available in September and October.

Ceva is also expecting further Bluevac supplies from Europe within the next couple of weeks and updating forecasts for next year based on increased demand.

Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

Early Bird for Congress ends 31 August, so now is the time to register to save 15% - and that is on top of your member discount.

From Professor Joe Brownlie opening proceedings on the journey of disease discovery, to dedicated streams on TB, infectious disease, calf health and AI in practice, there's something for every stage of your career - while hands-on workshops on hoof care, ultrasound and reproductive examination give you skills you can take straight back to the farm and practice.

Plus, it isn’t just cattle – there’s some sheep and goat know-how to take away too.

BROWSE THE PROGRAMME AND REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE: https://www.bcva.org.uk/cpd/bcvacongress2026

We all hope to see you there.

Your free member webinar for September...

Gain familiarity with the major genetic traits of relevance to beef production.

Understand how, when, and why to test.

Gain confidence in advising clients on the use of these markers.

Get an introduction to commercially available genomic indices. 

Members don't need to register, we do that admin for you - just look for the Zoom link in your inbox.

BCVA is run by farm vets, for farm vets. Whatever career stage you're at, you have something to offer – so we hope you'll consider standing in this year’s election for a new Board member.

All career stages and backgrounds are encouraged to stand - whatever your experience, from practice to industry, academia, government or a non-clinical role, it's relevant.

Board members are matched to working groups (Education, Medicines, Herd Health and Welfare, TB, Sustainability, Governance) based on their existing skills and interests, so you contribute where you're strongest while picking up new skills, from project management to public speaking. This year we're especially keen to hear from candidates with experience in government services, leadership or industry, but all members are encouraged to stand.

Email [email protected] for more information and forms.

BCVA offers grants for research that might not receive funding from other sources; the broad criteria we set mean it should be of direct relevance to cattle vets in the UK. Up to £5000 is available (this could be shared across several projects).

Why should you apply?
In clinical practice we make decisions on cases all the time, and, where possible, these decisions should be based on the best available evidence. Sometimes there won’t be existing research on a topic. Funding from a BCVA clinical research grant could give you the opportunity to answer one of these questions or investigate a topic in more detail.

How does it work?
Applications are now open and the deadline for applications is 1 September 2026. Successful projects will be contacted and then formally announced at BCVA Congress at Telford in October. Projects should be completed within 12 months, with the outcomes available for presentation at BCVA Congress at Belfast in 2027.

Full information is in the Resources section of our website (you need to be logged in as a member).

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

BTV cases continue to increase, and clinical signs are more severe than previous years.

Don’t miss the next webinar on 19 August (5-6pm). Hear directly from industry experts and vets on the latest disease situation, and key information.

Be informed, stay vigilant and book via the AHDB website.

 https://ahdb.org.uk/events/bluetongue-virus-update-19-august

Submit questions in advance: https://forms.office.com/e/dEpjrQE5bS

The recent announcement that Bovilis® Huskvac, the UK’s only licensed lungworm vaccine, will be discontinued following the 2027 season, comes at precisely the wrong moment for UK cattle farming.

In July BCVA led a collaborative sector-wide response to send a letter to the Veterinary Record to express our concerns regarding what this could mean for sustainable parasite control. The full version of this response, with an extended list of signatories, is now available on our website.

You can see the full response in the news section of our website.

https://www.bcva.org.uk/content/discontinuation-huskvac-threat-sustainabil-parasite-control

(We welcome additional signatories from organisations and institutions. You can email [email protected] and we will make the additions to this webpage within 7-10 working days).