These comprise:
- Electronic patient health records for farm animals from veterinary practices
- Electronic results from clinical submissions for farm animals to diagnostic laboratories, principally Axiom Veterinary Laboratories during our pilot phase.
Launched in 2022, EVSNET collects electronic health data for farm animals from participating veterinary practices in Wales and from Axiom Veterinary Laboratories. We're keen for our network to continue to grow in Wales as more veterinary practices and diagnostic laboratories join our pilot initiative.
While disease surveillance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), DEFRA delegate the collection of data. This responsibility sits with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for England and Wales, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland. The data captured, comprising of laboratory test results for live animals and post-mortem analysis, is aggregated together in the Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) database.
Capitalising on knowledge and collaborations developed through the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) and the Equine Veterinary Surveillance Network (EVSNET), FAVSNET will complement current farm animal surveillance by using de-identified data from farm animal patient electronic health records. The hope is that our work will eventually be used to support farm animal health and surveillance across the whole United Kingdom, evolving into a comprehensive national system for monitoring farm animal health and disease.
About our funders
Led by the University of Liverpool, the Farm Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network has been made possible by support from Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthficrobaidd Cyfrifol / Responsible Antimicrobial Use), Iechyd Da, Wales Veterinary Science Centre, and funding from the Welsh Government.
- Arwain DGC is a project that promotes the responsible use of antimicrobials in cattle, sheep and horses across Wales
- Iechyd Da (ID), established in 2014, is made up of a consortium of 32 veterinary practices operating across the South Wales area providing tuberculosis (TB) testing and other official veterinary (OV) services for the region. ID is one of the lead partners in the Arwain DGC scheme
- Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC) was set up in 2015 by Iechyd Da, working in collaboration with Aberystwyth University. The WVSC was appointed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as a partner provider to deliver expert post-mortem examinations (PMEs) of new and re-emerging diseases of farm animals, contributing to an enhanced UK-wide scanning surveillance network. The WVSC is a not-for-profit company which, alongside providing PMEs, also supports the veterinary and agricultural sectors with other diagnostic laboratory testing, advice and training.
The FAVSNET team are also extremely grateful to the participating veterinary practices and laboratories, without whose kind participation and collaboration, the data in our dashboards could not be made available.