Livestock Matters - Autumn 2015

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WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE... 1 7 LIVESTOCK MATTERS
As XLVets has grown, member practices
have embarked on delivering high quality
practical training to farmers and industry
workers through FarmSkills courses. More
recently the launch of the Dairy Herdsman
Certificate is supporting young people at
the start of their careers, and brings together
different FarmSkills courses into one
combined programme.
Further opportunities for those working on
farms to improve their own knowledge and
expertise in animal health are also being
provided through XLVets-led health initiatives
such as BVD CHECK TAG and ‘Stand up to
Sheep Lameness’.
FarmSkills
XLVets’ FarmSkills portfolio of training
courses was formally launched in 2009.
And over the past six years, 3,000
courses have been delivered to over
15,000 delegates.
All the courses are organised by XLVets
Training Services and delivered by both
XLVet members and industry specialists.
They provide practical hands-on training
across the UK and Ireland. The most
popular courses are foot-trimming and DIY
AI, however there is a wide range of course
topics available for dairy, beef, sheep, pig
and poultry enterprises. More details can
be found at .
XLVets training services
manager Olivia Taylor
explains: ‘The FarmSkills
courses are deliberately
run with small numbers
due to their very practical
nature. And generally fit
into the middle of the day, making it easier
for everyone to take time out from the farm.
‘FarmSkills courses are very demand-led,
and run according to the skills that people
want to develop. We have plenty of
established courses now, but are always
open to suggestions for new ones.
‘At shows and events, the XLVets stand
always gives people the opportunity to
learn new skills. For example, tying a halter
from a single piece of rope, or loading a
DIY AI gun. At this year’s Livestock Event we
were promoting an alternative skill - visitors
could come and try their hand at the art of
cake-decorating!‘ adds Olivia. ‘It was just
one of the activities being carried out this
year to celebrate the 10-year anniversary.‘
FarmSkills courses are open to all, and not
just farmers who are clients of XLVets
practices. Any requests for new courses
should be made to the FarmSkills team by
calling 01765 608489.
The Dairy Herdsman’s
Certificate
A recent initiative, launched this year
through FarmSkills, is the Dairy Herdsman’s
Certificate.
Olivia explains: ‘This qualification is
designed to equip students with some
expertise in the more practical elements of
a herdsman’s job. It consists of eight of the
dairy-focused FarmSkills workshops,
amounting to 13 days of hands-on training.
Moreover, it is available to students, via
their college, at a subsidised rate.‘
The modules cover DIY AI and fertility,
foot-trimming and mobility, nutrition, safe
and effective use of veterinary medicines,
calving and calf rearing, heifer rearing,
milking routines and mastitis, and
emergency first aid on the farm.
Olivia adds: ‘This was piloted at Newton
Rigg College in Cumbria over the last
academic year, and 50 students achieved
the Certificate. We are now hoping to roll
this out across other colleges, working in
partnership with our XLVet practices to
deliver training to many young people
across a good geographical spread.
‘Prospective employers will be able to see
that not only have these students gained an
academic qualification, they have also
gained some practical skills in key areas of
dairy herd management.‘
X L V E T S 1 0 t h
A N N I V E R S A R Y
Your opportunities to
improve animal health
on-farm through better
knowledge and practical exper tise
XLVets was formed when a small number of independent large animal veterinary practices joined
forces to share knowledge and expertise. The motivation to collaborate was driven by the need to run
their veterinary businesses more cost-effectively, and to ensure practice staff were fully equipped with
skills to deliver ‘excellence in practice’ to their farm clients.
Livestock event visitors demonstrating their cake
decorating skills