New poultry course for undergrads
One of the UK's largest livestock sectors is set to gain, following the announcement that Edinburgh University's vet students are able to take part in an optional poultry disease and welfare course.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has become the first school to offer undergraduates the opportunity to to specialise in poultry welfare and disease, with a new three-week intensive course.
The full-time short course, run in conjunction with St David's Poultry Team, provides theoretical and practical knowledge to undergraduate students on poultry care, and will include working on farms and studying breeding.
Students will also work with the school's veterinary pathology unit in order to study poultry pathology and disease diagnosis.
Currently, the course has places for three final year students, in order to help cater for a rising demand in specialist poultry vets. It is hoped to extend to seven weeks of intensive learning in the future.
"The needs for poultry vets are increasing, not least with the move to organic and free range farming where the likelihood of disease is increased because of exposure to wild birds. There is also the issue of avian flu and how this should be dealt with if there were ever a major outbreak," said course-coordinator Dr Barry Throp, from St David's Poultry Team.
Professor Elaine Watson, the school's head, commented: "Commercial poultry and game birds make up a large part of the livestock industry and contribute significantly to the rural economy and employment. Running this course will not only give veterinary students greater skills but it will also respond to needs of the agricultural sector."
Click here to find out more about the course.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
