Farm Animal Welfare: Challenges and Solutions

Farm animal welfare presents unique challenges that differ from those in small animal care. Vets Paul Horwood, Gill Whitehurst, and Dave Martin discuss these challenges. They explore how the vet-farmer relationship can support welfare improvements, and stress the importance of understanding the farmer’s perspective. The episode uncovers practical approaches to resolving chronic welfare issues, managing crisis situations, and the role of vets in both advisory and direct intervention capacities.

Paul Horwood

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.

Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. He has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University. He's a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for Vetlife, a member of the BVA council, mental health first aider, and the founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Gill Whitehurst

Gill graduated from Liverpool University in 1998 to begin a career in mixed practice. She started working for Glenthorne Vets in 2000 as a mixed practice vet, and now specialises in Farm Animal Medicine and Preventative Healthcare with a keen interest in Lameness and Infectious disease management on farm. Glenthorne Vets became part of IVC Evidensia in 2018 and she took on the exciting challenge of Clinical Director in 2019.

Since joining IVC Evidensia she has been a proud and enthusiastic member of the IVC Farm Clinical Board and has also supported the Graduate Academy, teaching and mentoring students during the farm animal practical sessions. Gill has now joined the Central IVC Farm team as Regional Head of Farm for the Midlands and North of England. Outside of work she loves to watch England Rugby and Cricket and enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside.

Dave Martin

David Martin serves as the group animal welfare advisor at IVC Evidensia and clinical director at Brownlow Vet Group. With over three decades experience, he's well-known in the UK welfare community. David is a leading voice in animal wellbeing and spearheads several key welfare initiatives.

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Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

IVC Evidensia Welfare contact email: welfare@ivcevidensia.com

The Farming Community Network (previously The Farming Crisis Network): https://fcn.org.uk/ 

DPJ Foundation mental health awareness training: https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/training/