‘Use it wisely or lose it forever’ is the theme for BEVA Congress 2025. The event will be shining a spotlight on the rise of resistance to antimicrobials and the essential role of the veterinary profession in preserving the efficacy of the diminishing portfolio of drugs available in this class.
The event will be held from 10-13 September 2025, at the ICC Birmingham. The full BEVA Congress programme is now live and super early bird tickets are available until 28 May 2025, saving member delegates up to £200.
Bruce Bladon who wears the presidential mantle for this year’s Congress, has woven an indelible thread of ‘use it wisely or lose it forever’ throughout the programme content. It highlights his unstinting efforts to promote the responsible use of veterinary antimicrobials and follows the launch of the MonitorME project to collect equine antimicrobial usage data.
Antimicrobial themes will run through the general medicine and foal medicine sessions and there will a dedicated section on antimicrobial stewardship, culminating in the Peter Rossdale Plenary Lecture to be presented by Prof. Scott Weese on the Friday afternoon.
“Resistance to antibiotics is already a serious public health threat,” said BEVA President Bruce Bladon. “My presidential ambition this year has been to demonstrate that equine practice, as a united sector, is responsible and proportionate with our usage of antimicrobials. The theme ‘use it wisely or lose it forever’ is borne of the need to deploy our knowledge and fine judgement when prescribing antimicrobials, aware that our right to prescribe is not inviolate. We may yet lose access to these precious drugs.”
Proudly produced every year by horse vets for horse vets, the BEVA Congress programme has a full committee of vet professionals behind its development. This year it is chaired by Rose Tallon who is aiming to deliver the perfect mix of expertise, enlightening practical sessions and outstanding socials to appeal to every member of the equine veterinary profession.
Over three days more than 90 hours of live and on-demand CPD will be delivered, covering almost every aspect of equine medicine, surgery and practice. Via presentations, interactive discussions, debates and workshops, speakers will present the best available evidence on their allocated topics to engage interest at every level, from new graduates to senior partners.
While the finishing touches are being made to the full programme, committee member Edd Knowles has shared his top tips on what not to miss, so far:
Predicting the future: Mystic muck: What can the intestinal microbiome tell us? Chris Proudman and In the genes: Genetic based predictions for improved horse health and performance management Emmeline Hill (Saturday, Hall 5, 15.30)
“I'm really interested in how new technologies can influence clinical practice and how we understand and manage the vast amounts of data that we can now generate.
“The age-old nature vs nurture question has always interested me and I'm looking forward to learning more about the extent to which our patients' future might be written in their genes or influenced by their management including veterinary treatments.”
General medicine: Equine grass sickness: case closed Bruce McGorum
“Bruce and his team have pioneered grass sickness research for years and Bruce will discuss a recent breakthrough in our understanding of the pathogenesis.” (Thursday, 14.50, Hall 10).
Dermatology (the entire session) Emily Floyd, Richard Coppack, Callum Haseler and Philip Ivens
“This session will discuss practical approaches to some conditions that are very common in practice and often leave vets and owners frustrated.”(Friday, 8.30 Hall 9).
Endocrinology: Promoting sustainable behaviour change for obesity Tamzin Furtado
“Behaviour change is essential to long-term management of EMS and Tamzin is a real expert in this area.” (Saturday, 11.20 Hall 5)
Ophthalmology: Recent advances in ocular surgery: what’s available and patient selectionFrancesca De Oliveira
“Equine ophthalmic surgery has developed considerably in recent years. Whilst the procedures are well beyond my skill set, I'm looking forward to learning more about the options available to our patients” (Thursday, 9.35 Hall 5)
The exhibition hall is filling up fast, with a mix of the industry’s leading suppliers and referral practices. It presents an ideal opportunity to meet the major players in the equine sector face-to-face, network for both business and career opportunities and find out about new products and innovations as they hit the market.
The legendary BEVA Congress social scene kicks off with the BEVA President’s Welcome Reception on the Wednesday evening. Sponsored by EVC Compounding Ltd it’s being held at the popular The Alchemist in central Birmingham from 19:30. Tickets are £25 for drinks only or £40 for drinks and food.
Super early bird tickets for BEVA Congress are available now. Tickets provide access to all lecture exhibition halls as well as full access to the virtual Congress hub. Delegates will have access to all Congress content for six months after the event via the hub.
Individual super early bird BEVA members prices for a three-day pass are £539 for vets and £148 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessionary available for those in their first three years of graduation or earning less than £25,000). Day tickets and practice passes are also available. Super early bird ends on 28 May 2025.
Comments