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WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
5
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
X LVETS NEWS
By Oliver Tilling,
Shepton Veterinary Group
.
The third annual Farm Association
of Veterinary Students (FAVS) Congress took place at the University of Bristol on the
weekend of 8th and 9th February.
FAVS Congress 2014
FAVS was established to allow vet students with
a particular interest in becoming farm vets upon
qualifying to further their knowledge and
experience in this area. Each of the seven vet
schools has its own association which runs
lectures and practicals throughout the year for
those students who wish to focus more on farm
vetting. It is important to note that students do
this in their own time and are responsible for
the organisation of all events themselves.
The Bristol FAVS organised this year's congress
held at the Langford site of the University of
Bristol. Attended by over 150 students, high
praise must go to the Bristol committee of
students for organising the event, plus all the
students who travelled from each of the seven
vet schools to attend - some even flew down
from Scotland!
Keen to be involved in the development of new
talent and potentially meet future colleagues,
XLVets had a strong presence at the event.
As well as having a trade stand for students
to visit, several lectures and practicals were
run by vets from XLVets practices giving up their
free time to get involved. Several members
from industry were also represented as well as
numerous veterinary societies. Lecture streams
included deer health and disease, responsible
use of medicines in farm animals, lameness,
calving, calf pneumonia, the sheep calendar
as well as expectations of a new graduate -
what farmers want! Practical streams included
lameness, fertility, mastitis, sheep, goats
and camelids, infectious disease, chickens
and pigs.
There was also plenty of time for students to
spend on trade stands; discussing anything
from technical issues to their aspirations for life
in practice with representatives from industry
and farm veterinary practice. Plus of course
there were social events including black tie
dinner and ceildh to allow further exchange
of ideas.
As veterinary practice becomes more
specialised it was fantastic to see students
seizing the initiative and organising their own
events to better prepare themselves for life in
practice and out on farm.
Peter Morley
and
Oliver Tilling
from Shepton
Veterinary Group on the XLVets trade stand
Oliver Tilling, Shepton Veterinary
Group and Anthony Wilkinson, Friars
Moor Veterinary Clinic representing
XLVets at FAVS Congress
Oliver Tilling
from Shepton Veterinary
Group lecturing students on: A New
Graduate’s approach to calf pneumonia
Peter Morley, Alex Perkins
and Elspeth
from Shepton Veterinary Group on the
XLVets stand