Ask any industry or profession about the last few years and there will be testimonies of coping with the impact of COVID-19, some will also have been deeply impacted by the UK's exit from the EU, as well as knock on effects due to the war in Ukraine. Those of us who build our lives around agriculture have been affected by all these events. As a farm vet married to a farmer, I've seen the impact first hand – and it's made me especially grateful to have the support of the community I've found within the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
In with the new
Becoming a board member of BCVA in 2020, I quickly put my hand up for the job of collaborating with students. Getting into vet school is one thing, qualifying from vet school is another – qualifying from vet school in the middle of a global pandemic – that's a unique experience. I saw that BCVA wanted to help support this cohort and make sure new graduates were still encouraged to choose a cattle vet career, even when very few of them could get onto farms to get that invaluable experience.
What an extraordinary generation of farm vets have come out of this experience. I have been impressed with the resilience and commitment from the students we've worked with – in particular our student reps, who are our cheerleaders. And we need them too.
Workloads have increased on farm for vets, yet the workforce has been depleted. We've experienced a drop of around 70% in new EU registrants coming to work in the UK since 2020. At the same time demand for veterinary certification of animal products for export to the EU has rocketed in the face of new post-Brexit requirements. We need the students in our vet schools to choose farm.
During the pandemic, BCVA gave all UK vet students free membership, made sure we had a rep in every vet school, and opened access to the full suite of benefits on our website. We have always done monthly webinars, but we doubled them – which wasn't just offering high level CPD, but a chance to engage with people already loving working in the profession. There's much to be done to recruit and retain farm vets, and it will take time, but it is a wonderful job, and BCVA will work with the entire profession to champion that.
Keeping a clear head
My clinical interests have always been heifer breeding, bull fertility and infectious disease control; however, during the pandemic I also became a qualified mental health first aider so I could help promote mental health awareness and offer support to both colleagues and clients alike. As well as my role with students for BCVA, I have been involved with developing online resources, signposting to the great organisations who support our profession and our farm vet colleagues.
BCVA has a long association with Vetlife, raising money and awareness, and this year we extended that connection to include the Farming Community Network (FCN) as an affiliated charity. Both Vetlife and FCN understand the particular pressures that come with working in UK agriculture, using trained volunteers to help vets and farmers in their most vulnerable moments, at the most challenging times.
Farming, and working with farmers, is always more than a job – it's a way of life – and with all the privilege that comes with this way of life, there is also risk, isolation and loss – sometimes that requires support. I'm delighted that we are going to be fundraising for these two organisations at BCVA Congress in October – if you are there, do go and find out more on their stands in the exhibition.
The big issues
With just 3.5 staff at our Gloucester HQ supporting 18 volunteer board members, BCVA is a relatively tiny organisation, but we have big ambitions, and we roll up our sleeves to engage with the important issues, representing our members at the highest levels.
In the last year that has meant getting involved with the launch of the Under Care changes from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) – from getting deeply involved in the consultation process, to offering members information and support as it is implemented this Autumn. Whilst we accept that the RCVS Under Care changes are coming in, there remains some concerns within our profession, and we will work with all concerned, including the RCVS, BVA and other specialist divisions, to ensure animal welfare is prioritised – and any changes can be implemented as smoothly as possible. BCVA officers have created some resources to help members understand and work with the changes.
Another big initiative for our members and farm clients has been the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP). It has been on the horizon and talked about for some time, so it was great to see Defra launch the first step – the Animal Health and Welfare Review – in February this year. The BCVA, along with colleagues from across the farm veterinary profession, have been one of the industry project partners in the development of the scheme.
It is early days, and as the AHWP develops various things will get ironed out; however, the aim of it is to reduce endemic disease, improve the welfare of animals, increase productivity, and ensure the responsible use of medicines and vaccines – so something we encourage all our members to get involved with.
There has been so much more for us to get involved with, including the conversation about the vet-led team and the role of the vet tech, reviews of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, EU Animal Health Regulations and how that relates to veterinary declarations for animal health visits – and not least – the raft of bovine tuberculosis consultations for each of the devolved nations. BCVA has some considerable expertise amongst the board – including the real lived experience of farm vets, who understand the needs of our practicing members first hand.
To teach is to learn
On top of all this, there is BCVA's core remit to fulfil – the provision of educational resources to ensure the highest level of CPD and encourage a commitment to lifelong learning. This is a year-round operation for BCVA, with provision for every career stage, online and in-person, across key areas of the country – it is about making our CPD accessible, relevant and inspiring.
All this culminates in the annual Congress each October. This year we will be in Telford, 19–21 October. It is no small endeavour to create an event that meets the needs of an entire profession and remains fresh every year. This year we will all benefit from the tireless enthusiasm and commitment of my colleagues on the Congress team – particularly Nicky Bowden. This means that we will have access to the biggest practical based congress programme in BCVA history, from scanning calves, discovering the potential of regenerative farming from dung beetles, and tapping into the specialist knowledge from international experts including Alex Bach and Terri Ollivett. Myself and my colleagues on the board look forward to sharing these important days away with everyone.