Changes in the agri-food industry and within the veterinary profession were highlighted by Professor Stuart Reid, president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), when he delivered the inaugural Ballyedmond lecture in Belfast recently.

Prof Reid pointed out that only 4% of vet practices in the UK are involved exclusively in work on large animals and 54% exclusively on small animals.

“There is an absolute shortage of vets globally,” said Prof Reid. “There is a need for more vets but it must make business sense.”

Radical ideas

The professor floated some radical ideas that might be considered as means to address the shortage. For example, should it be possible to train and graduate in only part of the profession of veterinary medicine? Should availability of a service 24/7 be maintained as a necessary part of the profession?

What if the professions were to be deregulated? asked Prof Reid. ‘‘Dr Google’’ is often the first point of consultation nowadays, he observed.

Food production needs to double by 2030 and attitudes are changing, he said.

Prof Reid said that resistance to anti-microbial treatments has been described as the coming plague.

There is tremendous political pressure building for much greater restriction of the use of antibiotics in the treatment of farmed animals – but this needs to be put into perspective, he said.

“There are less antibiotics used in animals than in humans. Policy currently is not evidence-based. We need to up our game.”

Norbrook makes commitment to Newry

A strong commitment to the Newry location of the Norbrook company headquarters was expressed by members of the Haughey family on the night of the inaugural Ballyedmond Lecture. This commitment to Newry includes Norbrook’s main manufacturing operations and research and development activities. Lady Ballyedmond, a solicitor, and her sons Edward and James Haughey have become members of the board of Norbrook.

The lecture, to be held every five years, is to celebrate the lifetime achievements of Lord Ballyedmond, the founder of Newry-based Norbrook. It’s the largest privately owned veterinary pharmaceutical products company in the world. This inaugural lecture coincided with the tenth anniversary of Veterinary Northern Ireland, the organisation that services the associations of vets and veterinary nurses in NI and provides continuing professional development for those involved.

Vet NI was ‘‘seed-funded’’ by Lord Ballyedmond for its first five years.