Once again Menter Moch Cymru and Wales Veterinary Science Centre (WVSC), in collaboration with Iechyd Da and Animal Health Services, are delivering the popular Pig CPD training for Welsh vets.
The intensive 6-day programme, taking place between May and September, will be delivered by specialist pig vet Dr Annie Davis of the George Veterinary Group along with a host of expert guest speakers.
The training will kick off on the 5th of May and it is a unique way for vets in Wales to develop their practical skills in pig production with hands on practical sessions supervised by expert tutors in a friendly and supportive environment.
Established in 2017, Menter Moch Cymru is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Pig CPD delegate Hugh Williams of Williams Vets in Tywyn described the training as a fantastic opportunity.
“The whole course was fantastic with a mixture of practical and lecture days. The practical days were fantastic, we were up in Glynllifon on an intensive indoor pig farm, blood testing and practising those techniques and then on a farm in Abergavenny an outdoor pig unit and both gave us fantastic experiences and all the members on the course an opportunity to learn new skills and improve our knowledge of pig veterinary science.
“I would absolutely recommend this course, as it has improved my confidence whilst working with pigs and also has extended my knowledge of the pig veterinary world” he added.
The first session will be virtual and will include surveillance for disease threats, TB in pigs, nutrition, pig production, husbandry and performance indicators whilst the second training day will be held in Glynllifon, Caernarfon on the 17th of May and will be looking at pregnancy, farrowing, clinical health profiling and planning for positive health.
The third day of training in Glynllifon on the 18th of May will include a tour of their indoor pig unit, surveillance blood sampling, how to populate a health plan and responsible use of antibiotics, and the fourth day on the 13th of July will be held in Forest Coalpit, Abergavenny and will include a farm tour of their outdoor unit as well as assessment methods for inspection of pigs and husbandry and management.
The last two days on the 7th and 8th of September will be held at the WVSC in Aberystwyth and will include pig post mortem theory and practical examinations.
Beverley Hopkins from WVSC said: “I am really looking forward to the return of this in-depth Pig CPD course with Annie Davis from the George Vet Group. It will be a fantastic opportunity for vets in Wales and a grateful return to face to face CPD with lots of practical training too.”
Melanie Cargill Menter Moch Cymru Project Manager added: “We’re delighted to be working once again with WVSC, Iechyd Da and Animal Health Services to deliver this pig focused CPD course for Welsh vets. The course was hugely popular when we ran it in 2019. The vets in attendance really valued the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of handling pigs and gaining in-depth knowledge to further assist them in providing services of this nature for their clients.”
For more details and to book a place contact WVSC: enquiries@wvsc.wales