Basic HTML Version
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
25
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
British blondes
STUDENT DIARY
Emily Collier
, Usk, Monmouthshire
Fourth year student, University of Bristol
Within two hours, the car was packed, I had
managed to grab a couple of unsuspecting
friends and we were off to Builth Wells.
Growing up in a community where ‘The
Show’ is something of a household name,
I was more than excited at the prospect
of visiting again and it certainly didn't
disappoint. We arrived at the YFC Village
worried about our weak Welsh accents and
trying to remember tractor makes but we
instantly felt at home. It is a real community.
In the livestock sheds, breeders all know each
other and whole families gather together to
reminisce about old times and look to the
future. The animals on display were, of
course, the best of the best and seeing them
was a privilege. They had all my favourite
breeds along with the associated stalls
providing more information... although when
my friend, Jonnie, walked into the ‘British
Blonde Society’ stall, I don't think it quite
lived up to his expectations!
Not only are these events an amazing
display of real farming, real produce and
down to earth people but they are also a key
venue for talks and discussion, generating
valuable opinions and decisions that will
shape the future of farming. A particularly
interesting topic at the moment is lameness.
Bristol is hosting the ‘International Ruminant
Lameness Conference’ this year, and when
they needed student volunteers to help out
I was the first to apply.
It shocked me to learn that an average 150
cow dairy herd loses nearly £15,000 a year
due to lameness problems. It is an issue that
has long taken a back seat with other factors,
such as nutrition, taking priority. But it is now
clear that tackling lameness is vital when
farmers are constantly being pushed to
increase productivity and margins.
The factors affecting lameness scores are
numerous and varied - housing, slurry
management, bedding, nutrition - the list goes
on. Yet in dairy farming the overall aim is
clear - to improve milk yield. However, aside
from the obvious welfare benefits, the
economic gains to be had in sheep farming
may not be so obvious or measurable so I
am particularly looking forward to hearing
Dr Becky Whay's lecture on motivations for
tackling lameness in both cattle and sheep.
She is one of my lecturers too so I'll be proud
to see Bristol talent on the international stage.
About Me
I decided when I was seven that I was
going to be a vet, and that I wanted to
study at Bristol University. I am proud to
say that's where I find myself now. I have
lived in the same village in Monmouthshire
all my life, surrounded by agriculture. I
used to spend every spare moment with
the horses, which were kept on a sheep
farm. I would spend hours in the sheds at
lambing time eagerly watching for which
ewe would be next, and was always on
hand to help with the shearing. I went to
several (rather wild) YFC barn dances and
the agricultural shows were the highlight
of my summers. In addition to many
weeks at local vet practices and equine
centres, I have worked on the pig unit at
Hartpury College and on a couple of
local dairy farms; I actually loved the early
starts, much to my own surprise! I also
helped with lambing a flock of 1,000
ewes near Bridgend, which was certainly
a steep learning curve but one which I
fully enjoyed.
Exams are over, the horse is home for the summer and the weather is
finally on our side! It was this blissfully optimistic mindset that gave me
the spontaneous idea to go to The Royal Welsh Show.