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Zoe Shepherd meets Georgina Lamb, Senior Partnerships Manager of the Farming Community Network. Together they explore the work this charity does to support farmers and families – aiming to meet people before the point of crisis. They talk about the kind of calls they get to their helpline, and their FarmWell website - FarmWell.org.uk – providing information to support farmers’ health, wellbeing and business resilience. BCVA will be raising funds for FCN (and Vetlife) at Congress 2025. Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our new CattleCast presenter, Zoe Shepherd, is joined by Joe Henry and Laura Chesters to talk about Bluetongue – and how vets can engage their farm clients in constructive conversations on this important issue. Joe has worked predominantly as a sheep and beef vet in Northumberland for 25 years. He works for Black Sheep Farm Health and has been President of the Sheep Veterinary Society. Laura is a fellow BCVA Board Member, working in farm practice at LLM Farm Vets. Both Laura and Jo have been representing farm vets on the Ruminant Health and Welfare Group, with AHDB, to collaborate with sector stakeholders to find ways to respond to the recent spread of Bluetongue.   *Information was correct at time of recording.* Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BCVA offers grants to enable research that might not receive funding from other sources; the broad criteria indicates that it should be of direct relevance to cattle vets in the UK. BCVA also aims to use this funding to support our members, who otherwise might not have the opportunity to be involved in research. Up to £5000 is available to share between one or more projects. Kat Hart and James Adams tell us why these are a valuable option for vets at all stages of their career, and how to approach an application and the study itself. (More information about BCVA grants - https://www.bcva.org.uk/resources/clinical-research-grants).  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vets Claire Grigson and Katie Ford talk to Kat Hart about meeting life’s personal and professional challenges. They tell us about how their careers in the veterinary profession, combined with personal struggles, led them to combining all these experiences to develop Vet Empowered, a coaching programme offering one-to-one and group support. A great introduction to ways we can all consider how to build on strength, confidence, and resilience.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Donovan, from Nantwich Farm Vets, talks to Kat Hart about the incoming veterinary attestations. With signs now being displayed at markets, it is more likely that farm vets are going to be asked about this by their clients. Laura outlines a realistic approach to the definition of ‘regular visits’ – how these fits in with accreditation schemes, and how to communicate that to the veterinary team. The legislation comes in from 13th December 2023 and will require all producers selling livestock for slaughter to have had an annual farm veterinary visit to allow their animals, and/or part of any animal, to be exported out of the UK. You can see useful FAQs here - https://www.bcva.org.uk/content/regulation Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vet Record Editor in Chief, Suzanne Jarvis, talks to Kat Hart about working with BVA publications since 1998 and the changes in the profession that she’s covered in her various editorial roles. She tells us about the impact of online publishing, being editorially independent of BVA, the role of the advisory group, connecting the profession, and inspiring healthy debates. Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each July we open nominations for BCVA Board positions, and here we talk to some of those new members who joined us in 2022. Rose Jackson, James Adams, Amy Cox, and Lara Robinson tell Kat Hart about what made them want to be a part of the association. They talk about the opportunity to learn, grow their connections, shape the organisation and influence the future of the profession. Common concerns include retention, sustainability, pay, and client relationships. Their shared passion for the profession comes through, as well as a desire to help create an environment where everyone can thrive.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Kat Hart talks to vet George Brownlee, CEO of Farm Vet Systems Ltd and VetIMPRESS. He outlines how his love of working with farmers and his own desire to have more information and data as a farm vet to inform clinical decision making, led to the development of the business. A truly inspiring talk about how the vet profession and those working on farm not only bring value but can also demonstrate that value to our clients, having a huge personal impact in food production and environmental sustainability.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An important and informative CattleCast where Kat Hart talks to Renzo Di Florio, a farm vet with a special interest in infectious diseases who transferred from practice to industry in 2022 to work with Ceva. He tells us about the diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment of Q Fever, also known as coxiellosis, a highly contagious bacterial disease that primarily effects cattle, sheep and goats. Join them to explore the most recent studies, consider management strategies, and gain an understanding of the zoonotic risk to farm vets.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kat Hart talks to David Black, Tom Warboys, Megan Williamson, and Lisa Morgans about the new Vet Sustain/Vet Salus course that is helping our profession become sustainability leaders in UK agriculture. The conversation explores how improving animal health and welfare – the day-to-day activities we’ve all been doing as farm vets for our entire careers – these are all sustainability endeavours. And we can reframe the conversations we have with clients to include how health, welfare and productivity are all entwined in their carbon footprint.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicole Baldry, Dairy Veterinary Technical Advisor with MSD Animal Health, talks to Kat Hart about Salmonella. We explore the seen and hidden clinical signs, prevalence rates (higher than you might imagine!), the impact on a herd, and how to prevent an outbreak.   Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ele Brown, head of the TB policy team at Defra, outlines the ongoing impact of the government’s bTB eradication strategy – where there have been improvements and the status of the worst hit Edge Areas. She shows appreciation for the work of the private farm vet and talks to BCVA’s Kat Hart – a cattle vet and farmer – about the role of BCG vaccination as the cull strategy starts to wind down. https://tbhub.co.uk/ Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BCVA’s Kat Hart talks to Jayne Buxton, author of a new book called The Great Plant-Based Con to explore some of the claims being made in the ongoing conversation about plant-based diets and how the debate around health and the environment is being informed.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Morgans, is Head of Livestock at Innovation for Agriculture, an independent knowledge exchange charity, based in the UK. She talks to Kat Hart about moving from mixed to farm practice because of the unique vet-farmer relationships, and how that resulted in a PhD that has in turn inspired a career to help agricultural researchers, businesses, landowners, and farmers to develop the knowledge and technologies that will make modern farming more sustainable, resilient, and productive. They explore the role of benchmarking, discussion and action groups, client clubs, using facilitators, multi-actor farm health teams and sharing knowledge through networks.  Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the challenges for today’s farm vet and how do we nurture positive relationships with our colleagues and clients? Former BVA President, James Russell, talks to Kat Hart about how graduating from the RVC in 2002, having been a part of the student cohort called on to help with the challenges of Foot and Mouth, informed his understanding of the relationship between vets and farmers. Having participated in the development of the BCVA’s TB position whilst on Board, he applauds the association for its developing approach to the key issues of the day, such as sustainability and wellbeing. James tells us about being BVA President during a pandemic, liaising with the divisions, the incoming Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, legislative reform, recruitment, and diversity in our profession. He also champions the work of VetLife – did you know there is a regular cohort of 100 people waiting to support our profession via their phoneline? Music Fireflies and Stardust by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3758-fireflies-and-stardust License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.