Training, engagement and health planning were two key areas of discussion at the first RH&W Four Nations meeting held on 24 March, hosted online by stakeholders from Wales.
The aim of these quarterly meetings is to share intelligence, priorities and approaches; Stephen James, Pembrokeshire dairy farmer and chair of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group, reports that the meeting was very positive and it is clear those within RH&W share common goals.
“While animal health and animal welfare are devolved responsibilities, good animal health looks the same, wherever the animal is kept,” explains Stephen.
“The four nations don’t need to follow identical approaches to ensure their livestock are as healthy as possible, and there is value in piloting novel approaches. But the new Group enables us to learn from experiences across the UK – what works and what doesn’t.”
Animal Health Planning and farmer training and engagement are both important priorities for Wales, which has a 10-year Animal Health and Welfare Framework. Stephen continues: “We have used all the opportunities we can find to make good ideas in principle, practical realities for farmers in Wales.
“The Four Nations meeting heard how we are promoting active, farmer-vet, data-driven animal planning in sheep, beef and dairy farms in Wales – and importantly, measuring the impact to the livestock enterprise. We will share the lessons learned with all those who have an interest.
“We heard too of training initiatives involving vets and farmers being delivered throughout Wales even in times of lockdown. Again, we are looking to learn and share what works and what doesn’t.
“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to the first Four Nations meeting of the new UK-wide RH&W, and to share our experiences here in Wales. I look forward to learning from work being done in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and wish RH&W every success.”
“There was considerable focus in the meeting on the fact that diseases don’t respect borders and if all four nations are to make progress in improving their ruminants’ health and welfare then the various projects which are adopted must interact well with each other.
David McClure, policy officer for Animal Health & Welfare at the Ulster Farmers Union, attended the meeting. He says he found it particularly useful to see how different regions tackle various issues and the different attitudes of their government departments in providing funding to their respective regions for disease control programmes.
“As a Northern Ireland representative we find ourselves under threat of EU Legislation, (particularly Animal Health Legislation), despite being part of UK. As time goes on, it will be critical to see how NI can re-establish historic trade routes which are currently bound by regulations on movement of animals.
“This presents a real threat to NI farmers who not only breed top quality pedigree animals for sale on the mainland, but also rely on GB sourced animals to ensure new bloodlines into our gene pool.”
Nick Perkins, president of the Goat Veterinary Society, says it was very encouraging to attend this first Four Nations meeting and see the initiatives and progress being made in active farm health planning in Wales.
“There was considerable focus in the meeting on the fact that diseases don’t respect borders and if all four nations are to make progress in improving their ruminants’ health and welfare then the various projects which are adopted must interact well with each other.
“From a goat perspective, we have been pleased to note all parties have recognised the importance of not ignoring a minority ruminant species. It is our view it is much easier to consider where goat health planning can be included at the outset than to ignore goats only to find out later they prove to be a weak link in a larger scheme for cattle or sheep,” he adds.
Nick Perkins from the Goat Veterinary Society
The post First Four Nations meeting shares Welsh experiences appeared first on Ruminant Health & Welfare.
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The aim of these quarterly meetings is to share intelligence, priorities and approaches; Stephen James, Pembrokeshire dairy farmer and chair of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group, reports that the meeting was very positive and it is clear those within RH&W share common goals.
“While animal health and animal welfare are devolved responsibilities, good animal health looks the same, wherever the animal is kept,” explains Stephen.
“The four nations don’t need to follow identical approaches to ensure their livestock are as healthy as possible, and there is value in piloting novel approaches. But the new Group enables us to learn from experiences across the UK – what works and what doesn’t.”
Animal Health Planning and farmer training and engagement are both important priorities for Wales, which has a 10-year Animal Health and Welfare Framework. Stephen continues: “We have used all the opportunities we can find to make good ideas in principle, practical realities for farmers in Wales.
“The Four Nations meeting heard how we are promoting active, farmer-vet, data-driven animal planning in sheep, beef and dairy farms in Wales – and importantly, measuring the impact to the livestock enterprise. We will share the lessons learned with all those who have an interest.
“We heard too of training initiatives involving vets and farmers being delivered throughout Wales even in times of lockdown. Again, we are looking to learn and share what works and what doesn’t.
“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to the first Four Nations meeting of the new UK-wide RH&W, and to share our experiences here in Wales. I look forward to learning from work being done in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and wish RH&W every success.”
“There was considerable focus in the meeting on the fact that diseases don’t respect borders and if all four nations are to make progress in improving their ruminants’ health and welfare then the various projects which are adopted must interact well with each other.
David McClure, policy officer for Animal Health & Welfare at the Ulster Farmers Union, attended the meeting. He says he found it particularly useful to see how different regions tackle various issues and the different attitudes of their government departments in providing funding to their respective regions for disease control programmes.
“As a Northern Ireland representative we find ourselves under threat of EU Legislation, (particularly Animal Health Legislation), despite being part of UK. As time goes on, it will be critical to see how NI can re-establish historic trade routes which are currently bound by regulations on movement of animals.
“This presents a real threat to NI farmers who not only breed top quality pedigree animals for sale on the mainland, but also rely on GB sourced animals to ensure new bloodlines into our gene pool.”
Nick Perkins, president of the Goat Veterinary Society, says it was very encouraging to attend this first Four Nations meeting and see the initiatives and progress being made in active farm health planning in Wales.
“There was considerable focus in the meeting on the fact that diseases don’t respect borders and if all four nations are to make progress in improving their ruminants’ health and welfare then the various projects which are adopted must interact well with each other.
“From a goat perspective, we have been pleased to note all parties have recognised the importance of not ignoring a minority ruminant species. It is our view it is much easier to consider where goat health planning can be included at the outset than to ignore goats only to find out later they prove to be a weak link in a larger scheme for cattle or sheep,” he adds.
Nick Perkins from the Goat Veterinary Society
The post First Four Nations meeting shares Welsh experiences appeared first on Ruminant Health & Welfare.
Continue reading...