March 2025

Sponsored Veterinary Education - Fortis Vet Wholesalers NZ

VetSalus partnered with Fortis, New Zealand’s preferred vet owned wholesaler, to provide education to veterinary professionals designed to effectively integrate sustainability into veterinary practices.

Creating a bespoke course adapted from the e-learning course ‘Livestock and Climate Change - A Veterinary Perspective’, VetSalus delivered education and training to 15 veterinary professionals from across Aotearoa (New Zealand). 

This Fortis sponsored cohort included an online learning course designed to equip farm veterinary professionals with knowledge on the key issues of our time – climate change and animal health and welfare, and leverage our unique role as trusted advisors to the food and farming businesses around the world. The course curriculum (equivalent to 15 CPD hours) was delivered through our flexible e-learning platform, comprising six detailed modules to be completed at the learners' own pace, ensuring the course fits seamlessly around demanding veterinary schedules. Participants were equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make changes in their own work, and the tools to support farming clients to meet their goals.

VetSalus also delivered two webinars facilitated by VetSalus Project Manager Warren Webber and veterinary consultant Christine Utting, designed to consolidate learning and give participants an opportunity to cross-pollinate their ideas with like-minded colleagues. At the end of the course, participants completed a final assignment to outline how they will use their learnings to drive sustainable changes at practice level. Fortis plans to continue to support participants further by facilitating a discussion with business leads to consolidate their learnings and drive positive change in practice.

Fortis are committed to providing their customers and suppliers with unmatched value and service, and wish to enhance sustainability outcomes across the veterinary industry. 

Andy Rason, General Manager of Fortis Vet Wholesalers, was pleased with the service provided by VetSalus, who managed the project from outset to completion:
“As a vet-owned business, we are committed to sustainability and supporting veterinary professionals in advancing sustainable practices and this aligns with our core values. Partnering with VetSalus allowed Fortis to deliver bespoke veterinary education to a group of our business partners. This course was managed from inception through to completion by VetSalus’s dedicated project management team. Having a global approach delivery by consultants based right here in Aotearoa enabled us to deliver true value to our business partners. We look forward to working with VetSalus again in the future.”
Mark Bryan, Director of VetSalus and Managing Director of VetSouth NZ said:
“VetSalus is really pleased with our partnership with Fortis. VetSalus is all about the sustainability of wholesome food from healthy animals, and having the support of a wholesaler who shares that vision is important to us. Fortis is now a significant, mature wholesaler within the veterinary landscape, and with that is bringing a sharp lens onto how we as a profession can work in the sustainability space. This course is a critical step for any progressive veterinarian who wants to lead their farmers in this area.”

Feedback from participants who completed the course was overwhelmingly positive, with those taking part appreciating the flexibility of online learning, collegiality of Zoom webinars and supplementary reading materials.

Jade Stolte, mixed veterinarian from Energy Vets in Taranaki on the North Island, said:

I really enjoyed learning about the different emissions from livestock production and the impacts each of them have, understanding that highly efficient practices have less emissions and how disease states decrease efficiency and increase emissions. I now feel confident advising clients on how productivity and efficiency can decrease emissions. 

Jevan Eady, large animal vet at Rangiora Veterinary Centre in Southland, commented:

(The course is) easy to access and well laid out, with extensive additional reading material offered if wanted.

Jack Rust, livestock vet at Otautau Vets Limited in Southland, New Zealand took part in an interview for VetSalus following the course, which can be found in the News area of our website. https://vetsalus.com/news/2025/livestock-and-climate-change-course-feedback-jack-rust .

Enrolment for our VetSalus e-learning course is open year-round; click here to find out more. The price of the course is £495 +VAT per student (registered overseas businesses may be eligible for a VAT exclusive price), with local currency pricing also available. 

VetSalus can provide a wide range of CPD education to veterinarians and paraprofessionals in the agricultural sector, which enables individuals and organisations to integrate sustainability into their work. We can provide exclusive cohorts of our online courses, or deliver in-person training at a venue to suit you. To find out more about our bespoke training packages, please contact us.

VetSalus working together with: