Farmer training through Wyvern Farm Skills programme

Wyvern Farm Vets work closely with our farmers and their staff to improve the health and welfare of animals and improve farm businesses.

Wyvern Farm Skills is a vet-led training body with a programme of structured courses, allowing farmers and staff members to broaden their knowledge and experience in all aspects of farm animal management.

We understand the varying degrees of personal experience, so each course is tailored to ensure value to all who attend. Whether you are looking to become competent in DIY-AI or administering medicines, we have got you covered.

Contact us about Wyvern Farm Skills

Wyvern Farm Courses:

Aiming to improve competence and provide certification for those working with livestock, there are a variety of courses that can be tailored to your individual team’s needs. Some modules will be run from the newly refurbished facilities at our Frome practice, whilst others can be held on individual farms.

Each course will typically be taught in small groups or can be provided one-on-one, at the practice or on your farm. Each attendee will receive a signed certificate and will be eligible for Dairypro points.

• DIY AI: 3-day DIY-AI course covering the theory of the bovine reproductive tract and handling and storing semen safely, followed by practical sessions. All successful attendees will become competent and certified to perform Artificial Insemination on farm.
• LANTRA Approved Foot Trimming and Lameness courses: Delivered by a BCVA Accredited Foot Health Trainer and available as a 1-day First Aid for Feet and 3-day Intermediate Hoof Trimming. Please visit https://www.bcva.org.uk/content/bcva-accredited-foot-health-trainer for more information on the courses.
• Herdsperson course: 5 day course, one Wednesday per month for 5 months. Covering Fertility, Youngstock, Foot-trimming, Mastitis, Calving & Medicine use.
• Youngstock Essentials: A mainly practical session to include disbudding, stomach tubing, castration, ear tagging and navel dipping.
• Youngstock Advanced: Signs of disease, colostrum management, growth weights, housing and more…
• Administering Medicines: Red Tractor approved course covering the correct use of medicines and injection techniques.
• Milksure: A training and stewardship programme for dairy farmers on the use of veterinary medicines, to avoid medicine residues and to help reduce antibiotic resistance.
• Calving Course: Covering aspects of normal and abnormal calvings, including when to intervene and post-calving complications.
• Post-Calving Care: Dealing with down cows and fresh calvers, including practicals on stomach drenching, intravenous injections and lifting cows safely.
• Drying Off: Theory behind selective dry cow therapy, followed by practical aspects.
• Mastitis: Covers the pathogenesis and types of mastitis, selecting the right treatment and control measures.
• Scoring: Including hock scores, udder cleanliness, body condition, rumen fill and mobility. This can be bespoke to your individual requirements.
• Lambing Course: Suitable for sheep, goat or alpaca owners, this course helps to prepare for and manage all aspects of lambing, kidding and unpacking; including abnormalities and complications.
• Bespoke Smallholder Sessions
• TB Biosecurity: Restricting contact, managing feed and water, reducing spread.

For more information on any of the above courses, please call the practice on 01373 451115 or register your interest via email.

See our list of up-coming courses.