Camera crew from Countryfile film final year students
The BBC’s Countryfile programme visited Leahurst to talk to staff and students about why there is a shortage of vets in farm animal practice.
Dr Dai Grove-White and Dr Tim Nuttall from the School of Veterinary Science showed Tom and the Countryfile team the facilities at Ness Heath, the School’s mixed livestock farm.
Tom Heap met with Olivia Cartmell, Sarah Lloyd, Becci Fincham, Lotti Pickup and Amy Cox who are in their final year of their veterinary studies and are currently taking the livestock health and welfare element of their course at Ness Heath Farm.
The students talked to Tom about their career aspirations, what area of practice they wanted to pursue and why they thought there were fewer vets going into farm animal practice.
Dr Tim Nuttall, The Head of Veterinary Education at the University of Liverpool, said that the School remains dedicated to farming practice. “Livestock health and welfare (LHW) is a very important element of our veterinary training and we provide excellent clinical and practical training in this area, supported by first-class facilities at Ness Health farm and Woodpark Farm. Further investment is planned to maintain LHW teaching in the future.”
“Roughly 60% of our students want to work in farm animal or mixed practices. However, many don’t stay in farm practice for very long and feedback from recent graduates suggests that this is because it is more difficult to achieve the remuneration, support, facilities and progression that is available in other types of veterinary work.”
Tom had a go at tipping a sheep, as demonstrated by Dai and the students, and also filmed the students weighing the Hereford cattle.
Dai, Tom and Tim with the students