9 in 10 production animal vets now conduct their own post-mortems following the closure of some laboratories in the APHA surveillance network.

These figures, from a survey by the British Veterinary Association, suggest that data that could be used for surveillance isn’t being shared. The Association said more needs to be done to capture useful data, as the survey statistics come six months after Environment Secretary Liz Truss announced Defra’s commitment to ‘big data’, yet important information isn’t currently being shared.

The publication also coincides with worrying findings about the presence of bacteria resistant to critically important antibiotics in farm animals and humans in the UK.  

In 2014, there was a 31% increase in production animal vets carrying out their own Post-mortems following post mortem laboratory closures yet most vets keep the resulting data at their practice, with less than 5% inputting it into a national system such as NADIS, AHT or APHA and less than 1% to a benchmarking group.
 
Commenting on Tuesday, Sean Wensley BVA President said, “We have heard a lot about big data and its positive uses economically and socially. Disease surveillance could be a shining example of where big data and innovative data capture comes into its own. In a global world, where diseases such as Schmallenberg and bluetongue can emerge in our livestock without having previously been seen on these shores, being able to quickly join up the dots of disparate disease data is vital.
 
“We understand that Defra and APHA must make difficult choices due to economic pressures and we very much welcome research already utilising post mortem data such as the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s Fallen Stock Project. What we now need is clear communications and guidance on carcase collection and access to [post-mortem] examination arrangements together with a determination to see this as an opportunity to innovate, exploring how digital technology can help vets in the field record and capture data that feed into national databases and help us to see the bigger picture.”
 
BVA is asking that all vets affected by laboratory closures are clearly informed about alternative arrangements for carcase collection and post-mortems, with 63% of vets affected by laboratory closures reporting that carcase collection in their local area was not working well.