2021 Young Dairy Vet of the Year announced

Rob Hall, a veterinary surgeon at LLM Farm Vets in Shropshire, has been named 2021 Young Dairy Vet of the Year at this year’s CREAM Awards.

The Award, new for 2021 and generously supported by Krka UK Ltd, recognises an exceptional farm vet who has been working in the dairy industry for three to five years, who has contributed significantly to the health and wellbeing of the herds under their care.

The recipients of all of this year’s CREAM Awards were announced online on Tuesday 2 February.

Rob, who joined LLM Vets following graduation from Cambridge University Vet School in 2017, has particular interests in lameness, calf rearing and housing design.

He said: “Since joining LLM, I have thrown myself into all aspects of the practice – from the Agricultural Show season to driving LLM’s BVD eradication efforts and revamping our herd health planning scheme. My role in practice management is also growing. I currently oversee work for the Johnes CHeCS programme and help to guide our industry-leading team of VetTechs.”

He added: “I find the interaction between dairy cattle and their environment fascinating and, following some specialist training I undertook with the Dairyland Initiative in Wisconsin, I’ve been helping our farmers to make major changes to their cow and calf housing, particularly by improving ventilation.”

CREAM judge Rob Drysdale said: “Rob Hall really stood out because of the additional services he’s trying to offer, for instance, getting involved in the Stamping Out BVD campaign and utilising his specialist skills in calf housing ventilation to increase welfare standards.  Rob would be a real asset to any farm or vet business.”

Charlotte Read, Key Account Manager – Farm, at Krka, added: “Newly qualified vets represent the future of this exciting and rapidly-evolving profession so we are particularly delighted to have the opportunity to highlight their achievements. Krka is proud to support the UK’s dairy sector and we congratulate both Rob and Rupert on the huge contribution they are making to their clients and their practices.”

Rupert Sheppard of ProStock Vets in Camarthen was highly commended by the judges.

The CREAM Awards are organised by British Dairying Magazine and supported by Krka UK Ltd – the UK’s fastest growing animal health company.