Vets express post-Brexit border concerns for animal welfare

Northern and southern vets will continue to share their expertise to ensure Brexit doesn’t impact upon animal welfare and consumer safety, said industry leaders at the World Buiatrics Congress in Dublin.

Mairead Wallace-Pigott, Veterinary Ireland president, said the 3,000 international vets at the congress were innovators, who share scientific knowledge to complement their clinical skills.

She said vets also share a cross-border interest in livestock transport, disease surveillance and antimicrobial resistance.

She said: “Ireland shares a land border with the UK. If Britain withdraws from these EU standards or applies different standards it could have ramifications for cross-border processing, animal identity, animal disease controls or food safety. The EU should make every endeavour in exit negotiations to secure a British commitment to maintaining current EU food safety and animal welfare standards.”

The congress covered a wide range of animal health issues. Prof Martin Green of the University of Nottingham examined mastitis control in dairy farms.

George Caldow, Scottish Agricultural College veterinary services, discussed ‘Health Planning For The Beef Cow Herd’.