Course Feedback - Hannah Davies

A Veterinary Approach to Sustainable Food and Farming, the inaugural course from VetSalus in partnership with Vet Sustain, was officially launched in July 2022. The course has been designed to empower veterinary professionals working with farm animals to unlock their unique toolbox of skills and knowledge to help producers attain multiple sustainability objectives, for the benefit of animals under our care, rural communities, wildlife and the wider environment.

Our VetSalus NZ Project Manager and veterinarian Warren Webber attended the One Health Aotearoa Symposium in Wellington NZ, 6th & 7th December 2022. For those who may wonder, Aotearoa is the Māori indigenous word for New Zealand, the most popular translation being "land of the long white cloud". This refers to the cloud formations which helped early Polynesian navigators find the country.

One Health Aotearoa Symposium 2022 - One Health Aotearoa One

VetSalus has recently completed an international project which aimed to assess dairy farmer attitudes to Animal Welfare. In collaboration with XLVets colleagues in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, a survey was developed and distributed to over 200 farmers. The United Kingdom results have now been analysed and a number of interesting points have emerged.

The CAVI Sustainable Livestock Production Conference was held at the Tullamore Court Hotel, County Offaly, Ireland on Wednesday 18th January. Sponsored by XLVets Ireland and MSD Animal Health, the event brought together senior figures from across the veterinary community to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector. VetSalus were kindly invited to join the speakers panel, with Rachel Hayton delivering an engaging talk entitled ‘Embedding Sustainability in Veterinary Practice’.

New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, recently announced a revision of the emissions trading scheme. In a surprise announcement, O’Connor signalled a change of thinking on the measurement of greenhouse gas outputs on New Zealand farms.

So the COP27 meeting in Egypt has concluded and despite, as is the usual tradition, of there being some frantic last minute discussion, VetSalus is left wondering what has been achieved?

Paragon Veterinary Group in Cumbria is a founder member of VetSalus, which is taking a proactive approach to sustainability in veterinary practice. Paragon employs a team of 25 veterinary surgeons, 6 nurses, 15 vet technicians and a large business support team working from 3 sites. The practice features farm, companion animal, equine and advanced breeding divisions and each contributes to the development of a more sustainable business.