Key biosecurity and welfare role for veterinary profession
Veterinarians play an important role in protecting New Zealand's biosecurity and animal welfare. As well as those who work in biosecurity-related jobs, such as exotic disease investigators and animal health laboratory staff, all vets are responsible for notifying new and exotic pathogens and assisting in a national biosecurity emergency.
Massey University's Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences (IVABS) runs the country's only Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree course which allows graduates to work as veterinarians. The course, based at Massey's Turitea Campus, Palmerston North, is full time for five years. Besides its role in veterinary teaching, IVABS has a thriving research programme, focusing on areas of national and international importance, including emerging diseases, wildlife health and conservation, equine science and food safety and quality.
Graduates may go on to become clinical veterinarians, playing an important role in promoting the health, welfare and productivity of farm animals, developing animal industries and ensuring the health and welfare of companion animals.
BNZ employs vets throughout organisation
Many veterinarians, both recent graduates and those with clinical backgrounds, go on to work in research institutes, universities and government departments. Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) currently employs qualified veterinarians at many levels, from technical advisers through to the head of BNZ, Dr Barry O'Neil. Veterinarians are also employed by the New Zealand Food Safety Verification Agency to ensure food safety and the health and welfare of livestock at slaughter.
In the last four years, IVABS's teaching programme has undergone a major revision to move the biosecurity component forward, as well as many other changes.
"Until 2006 there was a 14-lecture block within one course in which exotic diseases were taught. As this was near the end of the BVSc programme, it was decided to introduce education in exotic diseases earlier so that, in the event of a national emergency, students would be better prepared to deal with the situation if the agreement between BNZ and IVABS to release students to assist with control was activated," says Norm Williamson, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Massey.
Students can step in during emergency
Under the agreement, students each year undertake to forego classes and to assist, should such a major exotic disease event occur and its control would benefit from their input. To test this, students have previously been involved in an exotic disease response exercise.
Professor Williamson says skills related to maintaining biosecurity are integrated throughout the programme in relation to notifiable and exotic pathogenic organisms, particularly in the teaching of microbiology, pathology and parasitology.
Two lectures focusing on the occurrence of exotic diseases with public health implications are given during the fifth year of the course.
"Students are then set an exercise in which they design a control and eradication programme for the disease," Professor Williamson says. "Close relations are kept with BNZ officials who contribute their first-hand knowledge and experience to teaching."
The newly developed curriculum will also include an exotic diseases day, where BNZ staff will provide instruction on surveillance for, and responses to, suspected exotic diseases.
Animal welfare centre
Massey University is also home to the Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre – recognised as an international centre of research excellence. It is home to a Professor of Animal Welfare Science (currently Professor David Mellor), a position originally started with support from AGMARDT and MAF, and one of the first Chairs in Animal Welfare Science world wide.
Staff at the centre work with researchers from throughout New Zealand and the world to promote the humane and responsible care of animals through scientific research, education and advice. Along with other key players, including AgResearch, Unitec and Landcare Research, the centre ensures that New Zealand continues to be, and to be seen as, a global leader in animal welfare legislation, policy, research and practices in many areas.
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Page last updated: 30 April 2008