Organic dairy farming

Global demand for sustainably produced milk continues to grow, and New Zealand’s dairy farmers produce a product which is highly valued around the world. Low-input farming methods (including organic farming) are well-known for their environmental credentials, but the wellbeing of the animals on low-input farms is also critically important – to the animals, to the success of each farm, and to customers and consumers. Animal wellbeing is likely to be enhanced when there is regular engagement between a farm and their veterinarian. Low-input and organic farms tend to have less veterinary engagement for a variety of reasons – including farmers being unaware that veterinarians can provide value-add services beyond access to restricted veterinary medicines, and veterinarians lacking confidence in providing services to farms with less conventional management styles. This course will enhance the knowledge and skills of veterinarians to give them greater confidence in their delivery value-add services to their low-input and organic dairy farming clients.

 28 November - 16 December 2022

 4 weeks

 VetScholar (NZVA's online learning platform)

Description

Format

This tutored course will include recorded presentations, notes, a discussion forum and a live discussion session. Participants will have access to the online material for 12 months.

Topics

  • Why organic dairy is produced
    • Market drivers
    • Producer drivers
  • How organic dairy gets to market
    • Certification processes
    • Milk movement and processing
    • On-farm practices
  • What roles vets play in organic dairy systems
    • Planning and assurance
    • Diagnosis and treatment

Learning objective

  • Creating successful animal wellbeing plans, including effective disease prevention programme
  • Non-antibiotic approaches to disease
  • Taking an active role in herd improvement

Learning outcomes

  • Increase confidence of veterinarians to work with organic farms
  • Increase the value of veterinary services provided to organic farming clients

Tutors

Ash Keown
After a false start as an Arts student, Ash returned to his roots in the Sciences and attained a Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare) from Unitec in 2010. The following year Ash gained entrance to the BVSc programme at Massey University and graduated with Distinction 5 years later. Ash entered clinical practice as a large animal veterinarian at Vetora Te Awamutu, which provided a supportive environment enabling him to achieve the NZVA Young Veterinarian Award in 2018. Later that same year, Ash took up a role with the New Zealand Veterinary Association in Wellington, assisting with resource development and providing support to large animal veterinarians. In late 2020, Ash moved into his current role as Veterinary Technical Manager within the Animals team at Farm Source. The team helps to build pathways which ensure Fonterra farmers are able to meet current and future expectations regarding animal care, and also provides technical support on animal-related matters for other teams within Fonterra.

CPD recording

VCNZ recommended area(s) of competence for well-rounded development:

  • Clinical knowledge (what you know)
  • Technical skills (what you can do)

Cost

NZVA member: $430
Non-member: $860

Access

This course is available via VetScholar. NZVA members and current users enter their NZVA website log in details to access their courses.

Access details will be emailed one week before the course is due to start. 

Contact

Ata Snow
Education and Events Coordinator
vetlearn@vets.org.nz

Industry Partners

This course is made possible by the support of the NZVA Diamond Industry Partners and Fonterra.