Farm Vet Champions will be able to carry their status with them if they move between practices.

Online learning packages to be made available for farm animal vets and their practices

RCVS Knowledge has announced a new, collaborative project which aims to support UK farm animal veterinary professionals and their practice teams and encourage good antimicrobial stewardship.

The Farm Vet Champions project – funded by the Veterinary Medicines Doctorate (VMD) – will bring together a community of veterinary professionals and practices in the sheep and cattle sector.

The project will help them to implement material changes to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as well as supporting them in influencing future policy and procedures to improve the welfare of farm animals.

For first phase of the project RCVS Knowledge will build a group of representatives from major organisations, including BVA. The group will produce free, evidence-based online learning packages to help farm animal veterinary professionals take steps towards further improving antibiotic stewardship within their practices.

The group will be led by Fiona Lovatt, an RCVS recognised specialist in sheep health and production.

In the second phase, Farm Vet Champions can set SMART goals both individually and at practice level. An online platform will enable them to track progress towards these goals.

According to RCVS Knowledge, there is no limit to the amount of Farm Vet Champions within a practice. Professionals will also be able to carry their Farm Vet Champion status with them if they move between practices, helping to bolster antimicrobial prescribing stewardship throughout the profession.

Fiona Lovatt said: “I am really excited to be leading this crucially important project, which will be specifically designed to inspire and engage individual farm vets at the precise points that they interact with their clients, who often farm a mix of different livestock.

“The project is designed to build capacity, capability and confidence in veterinary professionals to engage with their clients in the application of good antibiotic stewardship. From a wider perspective, it will consolidate and strengthen collaboration across veterinary and livestock agricultural organisations as well as processors and retailers in the fulfilment of this hugely important common goal.”

To register your interest and receive updates please visit the RCVS Knowledge website.