Livestock and Climate Change - A Veterinary Perspective is designed to equip farm veterinary professionals with knowledge on the key issues of our time – climate change and animal health and welfare, and leverage our unique role as trusted advisors to the food and farming businesses around the world. Participants will explore animal welfare, nutrition and husbandry in the context of climate change. They will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make changes in their own work, and the tools to support farming clients to meet their goals.

  • Sustainability course for livestock veterinarians and paraprofessionals

  • Equivalent to 15 Hours of CPD

  • Delivered in person in locations across the globe

  • LANTRA-accredited certification

  • NZVA accredited CPD

  • E-Learning course also available

During this course you will study:

  • Introduction to Sustainability for Veterinary Professionals

  • Emissions from Livestock Production

  • Housed Livestock Systems - Welfare, Nutrition and Emissions

  • Impact of Disease State on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock

  • Grazing Livestock Systems - Advantages and Trade-offs of Mitigating Climate Change

  • Driving Change and the Role of Veterinary Professionals

Curriculum - The Details

MODULE 1: Introduction to Sustainability for Veterinary Professionals MODULE 2: Emissions from Livestock Production - An Overview MODULE 3: Housed Livestock Systems - Welfare, Nutrition and Emissions

Introduction to Sustainability

  • Climate Change
  • Biodiversity
  • Public Health
  • Social Inequity
  • Animal Welfare
 The climate impact of animal agriculture History of housed/intensive livestock systems
Sustainability Frameworks Carbon Metrics Efficient Farming: definition and metrics
Planetary Boundaries Global Warming Potential - GWP100 and GWP* Land Sharing v Land Sparing
One Health Measurements of Carbon Footprint

Reducing emissions from livestock

  • Increasing rapidly fermentable carbohydrates
  • Feed additives
  • Decreased phosphorus (Pi) levels in dairy cow rations
  • Decreased Protein Intake
Synergies and Trade-Offs Life Cycle Assessments

Livestock Waste Management

  • Ruminants
  • Monogastrics
Why veterinary professionals Physical Technologies for measuring emissions from livestock
MODULE 4: Impact of Disease State on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock MODULE 5: Grazing Livestock Systems - Advantages and Trade-offs of Mitigating Climate Change MODULE 6: Driving Change and the Role of Veterinary Professionals 
Emissions in the healthy animal Grazing Livestock Basics of human behaviour

Emissions in a State of Disease

  • Helminths
  • Mastitis
  • Subclinical Ketosis
  • Foot Lesions
 Carbon Sequestration Behaviour change models
Animal Health and World Hunger
 Agroecology 
 Using Listening Skills and Clinical Communication to Drive Change 
Heifer Rearing
 Regenerative Agriculture 
 Veterinary business as change makers
Effects of Treatment
 Adaptive Multi Paddock Grazing (AMP) 
 Regenerative Business
Selective Breeding
 Herbal Leys
Advanced Breeding Techniques
 Integrating livestock into arable rotations

Silvopasture, agroforestry and hedge planting

Pastured pigs and poultry

Course Format and Pricing

The course was originally developed to provide flexible online learning for busy farm veterinary professionals, equivalent to 15 hours of CPD. 

In person training courses are now available, which are delivered over 2 consecutive days, again equating to 15 hours of CPD. These classroom sessions can be hosted by VetSalus with accomodation and meals provided, or if you are an organisation interested in providing this for your team, we can also come to you. Prices vary depending on location. 

We also offer bespoke tailored training based on the course to organisations and businesses, which can include (but not limited to) facilitated online Zoom tutorials, presentations and student assignments. 


Please contact us [email protected] if you are interested in one of our bespoke training courses for your organisation. 

Accreditation

We are proud to be supported by LANTRA who have accredited the course and will provide certification to all course completers. The course is also accredited by the New Zealand Veterinary Association. 



New Zealand - July to December 2024

Bespoke hybrid course - sponsored by Fortis

Fortis Vet Wholesalers are sponsoring 15 places within an exclusive cohort of “Livestock and Climate Change - A Veterinary Perspective”. The Fortis cohort includes the online learning course, as well as two webinars at either end of the course, designed to consolidate learning and give learners an opportunity to cross-pollinate their ideas with like-minded colleagues. At the end of the course, participants will be asked to present their final assignment to both their clinic and Fortis, to outline how they will use their learnings to drive sustainable changes at practice level. All applications need to be in to Fortis Vet Wholesalers no later than 28th June 2024
Apply Now

Denmark - 2nd and 3rd October 2024

Agro Food Park 15, 8200 Aarhus

2 days of classroom training to be held at Agro Food Park 15, Aarhus on 2nd and 3rd October 2024, 8am - 4pm. Meals and overnight accomodation will be provided at Horisont Hotel & Conference Centre, Aarhus. Delegate price DKK9950, registration for this course will be open until 30th August 2024.
Register Now

Testimonials

A valuable tool in the armoury!

Andrew Davies, BVetMed CertCHP FRCVS, Director VetSalus, Senior Director Synergy Farm Health

A valuable tool in the armoury to be able to engage with day-to-day questions that are now arising with our farmer clients and also generally with friends and family i.e. the consumers and citizens. It provides a clear understanding and direction of the role we can play in the environmental sustainability and climate change agenda by effectively doing what we do best- advising and improving livestock management to enhance efficiency and reduce disease impacts. It helps to clarify and define our role in terms of producing positive impacts on animal health and welfare as well as on the environment.

Learning about what we can do is of paramount importance

Sarah Krumrie, BSc BVMS MRCVS MVM, Official Veterinarian and former Lecturer at University of Glasgow

We've reached a point with climate change where we cannot wait for big corporations to take action-we must do what we can within our scope to enact change. Learning about what we, as vets, can do to improve the global climate situation and ensure our future in this world is of paramount importance.

In my view this is a “good news story” for vets

David Black BVM&S DBR DVetMed FRCVS, Managing Director VetSalus, Director Vet Sustain

I am delighted that we have been able to respond to a need from veterinary professionals to understand more about emissions and animal health. This excellent course has been designed to inspire and enable practitioners to reframe the discussions that are had every day with farmers to include the impacts of agriculture on climate change. In my view this is a “good news story” for vets, because as trusted advisors we are in a position to support farmers on their continued journey towards ever better sustainability, reducing any negative impacts of agriculture on climate change, and even contributing to global cooling through reduced methane emissions (for the same or increased outputs), improved sequestration of carbon and improved biodiversity.

Enables veterinary professionals to lead the profound change required to transition to a more sustainable future

Hannah Kenway, BSc (hons) BVSc MRCVS,Production animal veterinary surgeon, Lecturer at University of Surrey

Through the exploration of the environmental impact of global livestock farming systems, this course will empower and enable veterinary professionals to drive and lead the profound change required to transition to a more sustainable future for our food systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Am I eligible to sign up for the course?

  • The course is aimed at veterinarians and those working in vet-led businesses, and whilst there are no specific requirements, all students are expected to have undertaken an undergraduate degree, technical qualification as a paraprofessional, or a relevant diploma. If you are unsure please contact us before you enrol on the course.

  • How much is the course?

  • The price of our in-person training courses varies depending on location. Prices will be announced on a course by course basis.

  • How long with the course take me to complete?

  • The course will take 2 days to complete, via classroom based sessions.

  • What do I need to accomplish in order to complete the course and receive my LANTRA accredited certificate?

  • During the course of your training there will be tasks and quick quizzes to solidify learning. A pass rate of 80% across the course will be deemed to be a successful pass mark.

Meet our Course Authors

Laura Higham

BVM&S MSc MRCVS

Laura Higham is a Director of Vet Sustain and veterinary consultant in sustainable livestock production at the Food Animal Initiative (FAI), working alongside food businesses to drive sustainability in commercial supply chains, with a focus on animal welfare and responsible antibiotic use. Having previously worked in the charity sector implementing projects to support animal-based livelihoods in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, she has a deep interest in the intersect between international development and animal health and welfare, and the wider roles of vets in society. Laura is a PhD researcher in antimicrobial use and animal welfare in agriculture at The Global Academy for Agriculture and Food Security at Edinburgh University, and holds an MSc in international animal health.
Laura Higham

Sarah Krumrie

BSc BVMS MRCVS MVM

Sarah Krumrie is a veterinary public health specialist currently working as a lecturer at the University of Glasgow. She obtained a degree in microbiology and chemistry in the United States before working as a veterinary receptionist/technician, where her desire to go into clinical practice faded. She decided to continue to veterinary school at the University of Glasgow, where she discovered a passion for public health. This led to a dual masters/residency program at Glasgow, where her involvement with students and mental health in the veterinary profession grew. Sarah was a finalist in the British Veterinary Association’s Young Vet of the Year 2021 competition for her efforts to improve mental health starting at the university level. She currently lectures to veterinary students on sustainability, meat science and residues, while teaching final year students about the public health aspects of slaughterhouses and infectious disease.
Sarah Krumrie

Hannah Kenway

BSc (hons) BVSc MRCVS

Hannah Kenway is a production animal veterinary surgeon working in the South of England. After a degree in zoology, Hannah worked in marine conservation in Bermuda before graduating from Bristol Veterinary School in 1993. Since then she has worked for a number of farm animal practices in the UK and abroad and is currently the clinical farm lead for The Carisbrooke Vets on the Isle of Wight. She completed the two year Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) sheep expertise program in 2018 and currently divides her time between clinical practice, consultancy and writing for the veterinary press. With a special interest in proactive health planning and the relationship between farming practices and the environment, Hannah completed the Vet Sustain and VetSalus online sustainability course ‘A Veterinary Approach to Sustainable Food and Farming’ in 2023.
Hannah Kenway

About VetSalus

Wholesome Food From Healthy Animals

VetSalus is a business initiative developed by a committed group of international veterinarians with the primary goal of establishing a global network of veterinary specialists. The core business of VetSalus is to facilitate the placement of veterinary consultants who will provide expertise in various aspects of ‘One Health’, especially animal production and sustainable farming. VetSalus is particularly interested in providing consultancy in Animal Welfare, Antimicrobial Usage and Sustainable Animal Production Systems.
Visit the VetSalus Website