120 years of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show is an institution. In Welsh, we just call it Y Sioe – “The Show”.  Established in 1904 and celebrating its 120^th year, it’s a firm fixture in the calendar of all in the agricultural community. Farmers across the country pray they will have the silage safely in so they can enjoy a well-deserved week socialising, relaxing, showing their animals and enjoying some respite from their hard work throughout the year. I’ve been going to the show since I was a young aspiring vet, interested in all things agriculture, and it’s an absolute joy to be there now, working for the profession that I am proudly a part of.

For BVA Welsh Branch, this year’s show was as busy as ever. As Welsh Branch President, I was delighted to be joined again by BVA President Anna Judson for the week’s events. Anna spent many years running a practice in Mid-Wales and, therefore, feels a strong affinity for all things Wales-related. I’m pleased to say the show is no exception!

Engaging with key stakeholders

BVA were invited to several stakeholder receptions, always an excellent opportunity to discuss the key issues facing the profession in Wales with those who may be able to support us, and to learn about the priorities of others. The week kicked off with the NFU Cymru annual breakfast reception, which consists of a delicious Welsh bacon bap, a hot coffee, and some constructive discussion about the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and TB eradication programme in Wales. We also attended the Farmer’s Union of Wales Reception on Wednesday evening, top and tailing the Show with authentic engagement with the farming sector.

Anna met the newly established TB Technical Advisory Group to give them an overview of BVA’s comprehensive TB Policy Statement and bring a UK-wide perspective on TB policy. We also held a very informative meeting with Susan Jebb, Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and her team to discuss topics ranging from ongoing workforce challenges in the sector, to veterinary undergraduate public health teaching, and EMS opportunities within FSA.

In rural Wales, the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme is never far from people’s minds, with all eyes trained on the Welsh Government’s decisions around the design and implementation of this vital future funding model. I represented BVA on the recently established Ministerial Roundtable for the SFS and attended the third roundtable meeting at the Welsh Government Pavilion, chaired by Huw Irranca-Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. A constructive meeting was held, with all parties working together to hopefully produce an ambitious scheme that is also accessible and achievable for the Welsh farming community and the vets who play such a key part in their businesses. We are keen to see animal health and welfare as a core tenet of the scheme, and recognition of the role vets can, and should, play in the management of sustainable livestock farming.

Other events included projects such as Gwaredu Scab, BVD Cymru, the Animal Health Improvement Cycle Pilot, and a visit to the Arwain DGC pop-up stand at the Welsh Government Pavilion, which showcased Wales’ pioneering approach to antimicrobial stewardship.

BVA member’s reception

The highlight of the Show, as ever, is the BVA member’s reception, this year kindly hosted by Dr Neil Paton and his team on the Coleg Sir Gar and Gwaredu Scab stand. We were joined by members from across Wales, veterinary students, the show’s vet team and many stakeholders for an enjoyable combination of catching up with old friends and making new connections. I spoke briefly about the key issues the Welsh Branch is focussing on over the coming year, specifically the SFS and TB eradication. We were delighted to be joined by the Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, along with several of their team. It’s a real strength in Wales that they engage so fully with BVA every year and work with us on many policy areas. If you’re at the Show next year, please keep an eye out for details of this reception because it’s a lovely event (and the cheese and wine aren’t bad either!)

Driving home after three very busy days, I had a moment to reflect on the real value Y Sioe brings to the veterinary and farming communities in Wales. It provides a rare opportunity to do good work while also catching up with friends old and new, and I’m already looking forward to next year (after a bit of a lie-down, my watch tells me I did 25,000 steps per day!)