British Cattle Veterinary Association - BCVA

27/10/2026

UK VET STUDENTS... Just a few days left to snap this offer up ...

BCVA membership is free for all UK vet students who sign up this year - that's your entire 2026-27 membership sorted, for absolutely nothing.

There's also a bit of a bonus. Everyone who joins between 1 September and 31 October goes into a prize draw for a pair of Rainscope Tall Boots (men's in black, or women's in pink, green, blue, black or cream, depending on who wins).

One thing we'll need from you: please let us have both your university email and a personal "home" address. That way we don't lose touch once you graduate and your uni account disappears.

What you get with membership:

CPD that's actually useful - in person and online, and subsidised or free either way.

Cattle Practice, with BCVA Congress abstracts and peer reviewed papers.

Cattle Quarterly – case studies, interviews, and features.

Cheaper tickets to BCVA Congress, the big event for anyone going into livestock work.

Free monthly webinars (we register you automatically — just watch for the email) plus a full archive if you miss one.

CattleCast, our podcast – clinical stuff, news, and some lighter lifestyle episodes too.

A real say in what BCVA does at a national level.

Access to VetMed, a huge evidence resource (2.4 million+ records) including the Animal Health and Production Compendium, and a drugs database

25% off CABI books

Our Next Generation hub, with the EMS guide and How To videos – this is a growing resource.

Sign up before the end of October and you're in — free membership and a shot at the boots.

Register on our website https://www.bcva.org.uk/shop/my-items

If you have any questions about BCVA membership please email [email protected].

22/10/2026

22/10/2026

Professor Joe Brownlie received a standing ovation this time last week at BCVA Congress in Telford.

His keynote speech was inspiring, packed with personal and professional insight, and highly entertaining.

He said it was his last public presentation. We truly hope that isn't true. The profession and cattle health are better off for him.

21/10/2026

New APHA podcast, Shamonda virus: an emerging challenge to ruminants and horses in Europe.

The podcast focuses primarily on the recent Jersey cattle cases and discusses the clinical signs observed, how the virus was identified and the wider surveillance picture. It also touches on developments elsewhere in Europe and what we still don't know about the virus.

You can listen to it here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2612657/episodes/19990767

21/10/2026

JUST A FEW SPACES LEFT ...

In November 2026, Stephen LeBlanc will be hosting an online Masterclass on Transition Cow Management. The workshop will involve online presentations and discussions over two afternoon sessions covering the latest research and practice for transition management including:

Prevention and management of hypocalcemia and ketosis

Management of uterine disease

Applied aspects of immune function and inflammation

Planning and monitoring transition period management

Limited to a maximum of 10 delegates, this will be a highly interactive and participatory (“cameras on”) workshop with content guided by participants’ questions and quandaries from practice.

There will be some preparation required prior to the workshop and an assignment in between the two workshops to help consolidate the information discussed and direct further discussion.

BCVA Masterclass CPD is aimed at experienced clinicians wishing to gain greater insights from class-leading research which can be applied on farm and in their work.

Previous Masterclasses have proved very popular, so early booking is advised.

Book on our website (members get discount).

https://www.bcva.org.uk/cpd/bcva-masterclass-transition-cow-management

20/10/2026

CONFIDENCE BOOSTING, SKILL ELEVATING CPD FOR NEW GRADUATES.

9th, 16th and 23rd November.

3 PART CPD personal and professional development for recent graduates – this online CPD for 1-5yr qualified farm vets offers the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding about yourself, your work and your clients.

You will gain a practical tool to help you understand and appreciate differences in the team and on farm, how to work effectively with others.

Monday 9th November 2-4pm  - Increase self-awareness with Carolyne Crowe 

Monday 16th November 2-4pm - Thriving at work with Carolyne Crowe 

Monday 23rd November 2-4pm  - How to influence others with Alison Bard 

£100 each session or all three for £270.

Find out more and book on our website.

https://www.bcva.org.uk/cpd/personal-and-professional-development-recent-graduates-three-part-cpd

19/10/2026

At the AGM at BCVA Congress last week we welcomed a new Board member – Lucy Morgan of Blackdown Farm Vets. Nicky Bowden and Alice Miller had both given us their two terms of office, and we can’t thank them enough for their time and dedication to the Board – we are better off for the work they did for the Association.

Our new officer team is:

David Black – Senior Vice President

Paul Burr – President

Rose Jackson – Junior Vice President

Beatrice Yates – Honorary Treasurer

Rebecca Nelson – Honorary Secretary

Back row L-R – Laura Roberts, Rebecca Nelson, Debby Brown, Lucy Morgan, Mia Ellis
Front row L-R – Beatrice Yates, Rose Jackson, David Black, Paul Burr, Becca Cavill, Ed Simmons, Zoe Shepherd, Rob Howe

17/10/2026

What a night - the BCVA President's Gala Dinner - fun, food, dancing and incredible fundraising. Thank you to everyone who dug deep to generously support Vetlife to the tune of £3030!

16/10/2026

The UK ruminant antibiotic stewardship roadmap report is published today!

Developed through a year-long collaboration with stakeholders from across the ruminant sectors and all nations of the UK, the report and roadmap put forward recommendations for tackling the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship:

📈A minimum national dataset.
💊Better use of antibiotic dispensing data already being collected.
🗣️Support for veterinary-led reviews to build stronger farmer-vet relationships.

It’s vital that farmers, veterinarians, industry, processors, retailers, policymakers and regulators show active participation and commitment to maintain animal health and welfare, protect public trust and support the sector’s future sustainability.

Read the roadmap to find out more: https://bit.ly/4ySA79N

UK Research and Innovation British Cattle Veterinary Association - BCVA

16/10/2026

If you missed Professor Reinaldo Fernandes Cooke's keynote speech at BCVA Congress today, you can still benefit from his expertise at the workshop at 11am in the Hereford Room on Saturday.

Sponsored by FerAppeaseUK