The new veterinary team manager at BPEX is Martin Smith, who joins the organisation having previously worked in large animal practice with pig and poultry clients and held a distance learning management role with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
BPEX Head of Technical, Andrew Knowles, said: “I am delighted Martin is joining the team. He is passionate about working with vet practices to help producers, while his work with the RVC means he will be bringing with him new skills and new ideas about communication.
“He is going to hit the ground running, however. As soon as he arrives, he will be off to the USA for a conference and update on Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea to help keep the industry on the front foot in terms of this potentially awful disease, followed by a visit to Canada where the industry seems to have PEDv under control.”
Mr Knowles also made special mention of Derek Armstrong, former head of research and development for BPEX, highlighting the hard work he put into that post.
“While with BPEX and before that the MLC, Derek was instrumental in helping the industry tackle PMWS, set up the salmonella scheme and was also involved in Real Welfare,” he said. “Latterly he has been heavily involved in the work on PEDv. During his time in BPEX he also took on the presidency of the Pig Veterinary Society.”
In addition, Mr Knowles paid tribute to the work done by Helen Clarke for her role in helping set up the Pig Health Improvement Project and then developing it over a period of five years.