We were delighted to be involved. along with VetSustain, in the delivery the XLVet Sustainability webinar series last week. This proved to be a highly successful event, with some great speakers on a range of subjects. The week was launched by two high profile veterinary politicians: the Right Honourable Professor, The Lord Trees and Dr Neil Hudson MP. Both emphasised the critical role which veterinarians can play in sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
After qualifying in 1990 I entered farm animal practice in the central south of England, moving to Synergy Farm Health thirty years later.
The ‘Introduction To Sustainability in Farm Vet Practice’ document is the first piece produced by Vet Sustain’s Food & Farming Working Group. The article comprises a series of case studies discussing work already being done by practicing vets, which improve on farm efficiency and sustainability, both directly and indirectly.
When it first appeared in 1962, Rachel Carson’s massively influential work, ‘Silent Spring’ had almost as much impact because of its genre, as its content. Very few books were being written about the environment then. These days, the publication of new writing on environmental issues and climate change is almost a weekly event and over the last year some significant publications have appeared.
I am comfortable working across species, though my specialty is in poultry production. My preferred work is in the use of economics in animal health and organisational management.
Whilst the low food conversion efficiency of ruminants relative to monogastric production is frequently deemed a negative attribute, the ability of ruminants to produce high quality nutrition for humans; whils