International veterinarians working together

Animation and training of technical teams, firm services, dairies, agricultural machinery, pharmaceutical laboratories in France and abroad
Technical and strategic support for food manufacturers and service firms (France and abroad)
Hosting and training organizations for foreign executives and veterinarians
Technical training for veterinarians, technical staff, sales representatives, breeders in French and English
Monitoring herds dairy production (cattle and goats) and lactating
Breeding audits
Development of livestock breeding plans
Management consulting collective pathology
Optimization of production and management of breeding (reproduction, feeding and quality of milk)
Expertise robotic treats and milking

Victor Oudhuis qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1997 from the University of Ghent (Belgium) and has been working as a farm animal practitioner in Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK since then. In 2008 he gained his Diploma in Bovine Reproduction (Msc) and has been providing Veterinary Dairy Consultancy on large dairy units worldwide (most recently in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) since 2014. His main interests are data analysis (epidemiology), herd health planning, developing protocols/SOP’s and providing theoretical and practical training to vets and farm staff.

Following 11 years of clinical practice in the UK, I spent 3 and 1/2 years as a senior lecturer in cattle health and production in New Zealand. For the last 6 and 1/2 years I have worked as a dairy nutritionist for the Evidence Group in the UK, prior to commencing work with Advanced Ruminant Nutrition in Jan 2021. I have undertaken study visits to the USA and mainland Europe. I have a strong record of collaborative research and publication as well as having spoken at both national and international conferences. As well as undertaking train the trainer I have experience of both lecturing and small group practical training, including ongoing teaching roles at Massey University and Glasgow University. I am currently undertaking a PhD with University of Liverpool studying protein metabolism in transition dairy cows.
Alongside strong clinical practice experience I have extensive experience of nutrition and feeding management in both extensive and highly intensive dairy systems, working with farmers to optimise health, fertility, production and profitability. I am skilled in the use of a variety of dairy management software packages, rationing systems and feeding management software.

Based and raised in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, I attended The University of Edinburgh and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 2002. Having worked over 20 years in farm animal clinical practice I started my own Veterinary consulting company in 2023 to pursue my passion in preventative animal healthcare. The company targets proactive health planning on farms to decrease morbidity and mortality and reduce the requirement for administration of antibiotics, while maximising animal welfare and productivity. At present I have a contract with a world leading producer of whole bovine colostrum, for whom I provide technical consultation services. I have conducted an on farm study investigating the supplementation of passive transfer of calves and provision of enriched pasteurised transition milk to a spring calving, pasture based batch calving production unit. The results showed a dramatic decrease in the use of antibiotics (mainly HP-CIA's), improvements in health and weight gain. I will present these findings at the World Buiatrics Congress in Mexico 2024. I also provide consultation services using data analysis software (Dairycomp Consultant) to analyse fertility on farms and increase submission rates by good management, nutrition strategies and disease control to reduce the need for hormonal intervention. The company goal regarding fertility is to reduce the average days in milk of a herd by natural (pasture based), sustainable methods to reduce the number of cows required to produce the same volume of milk, thereby improving sustainability. The company has courses certified by Lantra Awards to educate animal health professionals in health and management procedures - Selective Dry Cow Therapy, Calving Cow Management and Johne's disease control (currently awaiting certification). In my spare time I like to surf and explore the beaches of the beautiful Welsh coastline.

I am the Department head for CowsmartTM; a Consultancy and Reporting business unit within Vetlife Ltd., specializing in automated animal health technologies.

I am responsible for services related to dairy cattle sensors and their relevance to animal health, reproduction, nutrition and productivity. My work is part of an ongoing initiative ensuring the continued evolvement of our veterinary services, which now includes modern monitoring technologies and their relevance to the veterinary profession.

I received my Bachelor’s and DVM degrees from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, graduating in 2014. I completed the Australasian National Veterinary Examination in 2017 and am registered with the VCNZ, currently practicing in New Zealand.

I am a curious, committed, and particular person. In my career, I have always been driven by an ambition to continue improving my knowledge and to provide science-based advice of the highest standard. I have an analytical mindset, a scientific interest and advanced interpersonal skills and I enjoy utilizing each of these in my professional life. Privately, I own and operate a dairy farm with my husband, milking 730 cows.

I am a standing member of the International Dairy Federation Committee for Animal Health and Welfare and I am currently part of several Action Teams investigating topics including heat stress in dairy cattle, reproductive technologies in dairy cattle and sensor use in dairy cattle.
My education covers several dairy production systems found around the world and as a current member of international interest groups. I expect to find more avenues for growth and building my international connections as part of this journey.

I have been a practising veterinarian in Denmark since 2011. My primary work in practice has been as a herd veterinarian in dairy farms with a focus on health and nutrition of calves and young stock, reproduction, health and nutrition of transition cows, animal welfare, udder health, disease control and prevention, treatment and vaccination protocols. In 2013 I became a partner in the practice. In 2015 I became DVA certified in Herd Health management, disease and reproduction.

Ben qualified in 2014 from the Royal Veterinary College, London and joined the Farm Animal Production internship at Synergy Farm Health based in Dorset, UK. He has remained at Synergy ever since, though has taken the opportunity to see veterinary practice in the Netherlands and New Zealand as part of a sabbatical. Ben is the main health advisor for one of the UK’s largest beef integration chains, focusing on their calf rearing enterprise which sources milk-fed calves from multiple dairies. He completed a Masters in Veterinary Epidemiology in 2021, and uses these skills to interpret large calf performance datasets and conduct studies on a beef calf-rearing trial farm that is under his care.

Dr. Thadaeus Labong is a practicing Veterinarian in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria.

He graduated from University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) renamed Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.

He's a passionate public health scientist who's major concern is food security. He worked to ensure quality wholesome milk is produced and consumed by the public.

As a lecturer with the College of Agriculture Garkawa Nigeria, He mentored students in the field large animal medicine.

I am President of the Union of European Veterinary Hygienists and have spent 30 years working in the field of food controls - I share the same ambitions and objectives of VetSalus

Since qualifying as a veterinary surgeon in 2019, I have worked in a large dairy practice where principles of evidence based veterinary medicine, education, and sustainability for both the practice and the agricultural industry we serve have underpinned my work. In July 2022, I started a residency programme with the Royal Veterinary College, alongside my clinical work, to study for the Masters In Veterinary Medicine and to become a Diplomat of the European College of Bovine Health Management, which I am due to finish later this year.

As part of my residency programme I have been actively involved in research, with publications on computer vision and a current project investigating the effects of sedation on outcomes after calf disbudding. I also dedicate a substantial amount of my time to teaching veterinary students in both practical and classroom sessions.

My current clinical work is predominantly dairy based, working with a wide variety of herds that range from 40 to over 2,000 milking cows. I strive to stay up to date with recent published literature on cattle health and production and where relevant apply it to improve the health and performance of the herds I work with. This has led to developing a few key areas of interest for me including the monitoring of transition cow success and subclinical hypocalcaemia, as well as implementation of new diagnostic techniques to improve calf health and lifetime production, such as the utilisation of quick thoracic ultrasound.

Having worked as a first opinion production animal vet for 17 years, I decided to move my career towards a more proactive role: consulting on improving the efficiency and thereby the sustainability of livestock. My particular area of interest is in beef animals as I believe there huge gains to be made in this industry when it comes to assessing carbon output and maximising productivity.

UK farming needs all the help it can get at the moment and I want to support farmers for us all to be here in 20 years time.

I have an interest in improving the sustainability of farming practices in UK. As a practising farm vet and director in a mixed practice for the last 16 years I have acquired the communication skills and experience to work with farmers and other stakeholders to discuss sustainability issues on cattle & sheep farms (and a few goat herds). Prior to becoming a director I worked as a lecturer of ruminant health, production and welfare at the University of Liverpool. I was involved in (and received training in the delivery of) large group lectures and small group teaching along with practical workshops. I have always had an passion for investment in our environment, animal health and welfare and the well-being of students, clients and now my staff. The practice is currently a silver award holder in the Investors in Environment scheme (just about to be audited for Green standard). I really enjoy writing articles and delivering educational talks to farmers, schools and the general public encouraging sustainability considerations including welfare and production, biodiversity, responsible antimicrobial use and food provenance. I chair a Flock Health Club with around 20 sheep farmer members with the aim to disseminate knowledge and experiences in improving flock heath and sustainability. My colleagues and I also run 'Ignite Agri-forum' and 'Chewing the Cud' discussion group directly aiming to target young (post YFC) farmers and farmers' managing farms respectively to consider ways of working, diversification and sustainability issues. Since completing the course A Veterinary Approach to Sustainable Food and Farming course I am keen to gain more experience and be more involved in working towards a more sustainable future.

Vibeke Sommer Thomsen has worked in dairy herd health for 14 years, with a primary focus on improving the health, welfare and breeding of Danish dairy cows. Vibeke's day-to-day work involves advising milk producers, drawing on veterinary expertise, clinical assessments of animals, and the interpretation and analysis of data from a range of sources, including clinical data, milking robot data, activity measurements and performance control data.

Vibeke completed a two-year hoof training programme through the Danish Veterinary Association from 2018 to 2020, followed by specialist veterinary training in cattle from 2020 to 2022. Combined with her day-to-day veterinary work, this has provided extensive experience in clinical and welfare assessments and data validation. Vibeke uses this expertise to provide informed input on the validity and applicability of data and data-collection procedures across different countries and herd types.

Kevin Crews is a Massey University 1983 veterinary graduate and is Managing Director for CTSL, a New Zealand registered company that specialises in disease and pest management strategic and operational design, One Health systems, operational epidemiology, quality assurance, monitoring and audit, and training. He has worked in the areas of preventative medicine, industry disease control and quality assurance for nearly 40 years, in both the public and private sectors.
He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in epidemiology and is a foundation member of the College’s Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Chapter. He is a member of the Subject Standards Committee of the VPH Chapter; a role that includes supervision and mentorship of VPH exam candidates.
Kevin co-chairs the One Heath Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium Organising Committee. OHA is an alliance that brings together experts in academic research and operational science from the fields of animal, human and environmental health.
Kevin is a member of the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Epidemiology, Food Safety, Animal Welfare and Biosecurity (E-FAB) Special Interest Branch, having previously served on the executive committee of the branch (and its predecessors) for 15 years, four of these as President. Kevin is also a member of New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Sheep & Beef Cattle Society.
Kevin has delivered papers on NZ’s successful bovine tuberculosis (TB) strategy at multiple international conferences throughout the past 25 years, as well as being author/co-author of several published papers on bovine TB.

Joe Henry is an experienced farm vet specialising in sheep and beef health, disease prevention and herd and flock health planning. A Glasgow Veterinary School graduate, he has worked in farm practice since 1998, including time in New Zealand and Colorado, gaining insight into a range of livestock farming systems.

Based in Rothbury, Northumberland, Joe is a partner at Black Sheep Farm Health, where he works with farmers to improve animal health, productivity and disease prevention. He holds the Certificate in Sheep Health and Production and is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Sheep Health and Production.

Joe has spoken widely at veterinary and farming events, contributed to industry projects and training programmes, and served as President of the Sheep Veterinary Society. His particular interests include evidence-based health planning, performance benchmarking and sustainable, profitable beef and sheep production.

Outside veterinary practice, Joe runs his own farm with 130 ewes and 140 cattle, managed outdoors on forage-based diets.

Niels graduated in 2002 (Utrecht, NL) with a degree in veterinary medicine. He worked in various veterinary practices before joining veterinarian practice Thewi BV in 2006. In 2008, he became co-owner of Thewi BV. Thewi BV is a veterinary practice consisting of 10 certified veterinarians specializing in veal and beef.

He advises farmers as well as integrations and technicians on health care, welfare, management, housing, climate, feed, and other aspects involved in raising calves in the Netherlands and abroad on request.

He contributed to the development of guidelines for veterinarians working with veal and to the identification of critical success factors to reduce the use of antibiotics in the Dutch veal industry.

He is a member of the expert panel on infectious diseases.

He is co-author/author of scientific articles, has participated in clinical trials, and has presented oral presentations and posters at various World Buiatrics Congresses.

For more than 20 years, I worked as a conventional cattle veterinarian, where I also focused strongly on herd management and preventive medicine. Later, I started my own solo practice with the aim of helping farmers improve their management, without being involved in the sale of medicines. Through Klevet Koeienpraktijk, I support farmers in optimizing their work, I have a special interest in the transition period.. In addition, I am active as FarmLabo, selling blood analysis equipment (BoviLab—on-farm blood testing) to veterinarians. The main goal here is to detect subclinical diseases and enhance management practices. I believe the mission of VetSalus aligns perfectly with my vision, and I value operating within a larger network.

DVM 1996, PhD 2003, experience from 10 years in cattle and sheep practice and 18 years as university researcher in herd health, analysis of herd data, effect of advisory service, milking hygiene, robotic milking, antibiotic resistance in conventional and organic farming, Experience from secondary opinions in dairy herds in Denmark and other countries.

Henry is a director at Crowshall Veterinary Services, a dedicated commercial poultry and gamebird practice based in the UK which is accredited green in sustainability by Investors in the Environment (iiE). Henry is a resident of the European College of Poultry Veterinary Science (ECPVS), a mental health first aider, and an external educator for the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

After graduating from the Faculty of Animal Sciences at Wageningen University, I began studying veterinary medicine at Utrecht University.

After graduating, I initially worked as a general veterinarian. After two years, I specialized in ruminants and a small portion of equine care. Since 2014, I have been co-owner of a practice in the north of the Netherlands. In my daily work, I focus primarily on preventive veterinary medicine and fertility. I am a member of the infectious diseases expert panel and hold various additional classifications from Dutch dairy companies.

I am a veterinary surgeon with over 20 years of experience across farm animal practice, academic research, and commercial animal health. My career has been shaped by a passion for improving livestock health, welfare, and sustainability at both farm and industry level. I began in clinical practice, spending over a decade supporting beef and dairy clients across Northern Ireland. During this time, I developed a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities facing farmers and gained practical insight into what effective veterinary support really means. Driven to create broader impact, I went on to complete a PhD in ruminant nutrition and immune function, publishing peer-reviewed papers and presenting internationally. I take great satisfaction in turning complex research into practical, actionable guidance and continue to do so through government consulting, conference presentations, and advisory work. I’ve since worked in technical leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and feed industry, supporting the development, communication, and implementation of animal health strategies across the UK and Ireland. Alongside this, I’ve led collaborative industry projects, sat on professional committees, and contributed to key policy discussions around veterinary medicine access, antimicrobial use, and sustainable livestock systems. Through my Nuffield Farming Scholarship, I explored multi species preventative health practices worldwide, which gave me a greater appreciation for cross-sector learning and the global relevance of One Health approaches. Whether advising farmers, developing training, or shaping policy, I bring a systems-thinking mindset grounded in real-world application.

Interest in the environmental impact of livestock farming and how this is being portrayed. Like to approach concepts and problems from many angles to try and understand why that conclusion has been made, could we have come up with a different one? How improving animal health can increase efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint per kg of milk/meat sold. Can farming practices also be beneficial to carbon capture? Is the environmental story biased when it comes to farming? Do farmers voices matter? Are we measuring the right things? Could we do better? Does NZ farming fit the current models being used?

As an expert in udder health, I am eager to engage at an international level. I am convinced that exchanging experiences, sharing knowledge, and collaborating with peers across borders will enhance our collective understanding and expertise. My daily work focuses on udder health and the responsible use of antimicrobials. Contributing to international projects would provide an excellent opportunity to further develop my expertise, apply my insights in a broader context, and actively support initiatives that promote animal health and sustainable practices.

I have always been fascinated by nature and animals and it seems naturally to me to reflect on agricultural impact on climate, biodiversity and soil fertility. I have practical experience with a number of different production types, ranging from small scale biodynamic farming to organic and conventional dairy and beef production. Not only as a veterinary advisor, but also as an on-farm employee. During my studies I worked as a research assistant with both disease models, necropsies and feed trials in broilers, pigs, cattle and mink. This has taught me to recognize patterns, think outside the box and to work systematically, which are skills I apply everyday in my work as a veterinary practitioner.
I take pride in working with food production and feel a great responsibility toward helping farmers and other interested parties transform their businesses to accommodate the ever-changing demands from consumers and legislators. My main interests are hoof health, grazing strategies and parasite management.