Agriculture student wins top RABDF award

A Myerscough College Agriculture student recently received an RABDF Health Management Award at a presentation at the Livestock 2012 event at the NEC on Wednesday 5^th September.

Diane Gornall, from Claughton-on-Brock, Preston, who is currently studying the FdSc Agriculture Degree at the College, was one of two award winners who each received a £500 cash prize.

The awards, sponsored by Metacam, are an awareness raising initiative aimed at younger members of the agriculture industry. They were introduced six years ago as part of the Farm Health Planning (FHP) initiative, a proactive approach to farm health planning in the cattle sector developed over that period of time by a group of farmers, vets and specialist advisors, working in partnership with Defra.

Open to agriculture and veterinary students, the entrants were required to prepare a 1,500 word essay demonstrating their understanding of proactive farm health management on dairy and/or beef units. They were asked to demonstrate an understanding of the cost of disease and its financial impact on business performance as well as the environmental implications and likely impact on meat and milk quality.

The essays were judged by a panel featuring Dairy Farmer and RABDF Council Member, Derrek Davies, Veterinary Surgeon, Andrew Praill, and John Sumner, Dairy Consultant and Competition Co-ordinator.

John commented: “It was evident from the essays that the understanding of the general philosophy of farm health management is increasing among agriculture students which is encouraging.

“Diane’s essay showed good use of research and an ability to analyse practical situations and she produced a most worthwhile essay.”

Allan Henderson of Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica, manufacturers of Metacam the product sponsor of the competition added: “Once again, we are delighted to sponsor this important part of Farm Health Planning. It is very encouraging to see such high quality essays from the veterinary and agricultural students.”