A working vet, highly acclaimed in the dairy world, and respected by policy makers and dairy farmers alike, is the winner of this year’s Dairy Industry Award.
The coveted award was presented to Devon vet Dick Sibley in recognition of his contribution to the dairy industry by Dairy Crest chairman Simon Oliver at the prestigious Dairy Industry Dinner at the Bath & West Showground on Tuesday, October 3rd - the night before the Dairy Show.
Mr Sibley, a veterinary surgeon at the West Point Vet Practice, in Witheridge, Devon, is highly regarded within the dairy sector and was at the forefront of advisors during the Foot and Mouth crisis five years ago.
Predominantly working with dairy farmers and with particular interest in the health, welfare and productivity of cattle, Mr Sibley has over many years been influential to the whole dairy sector in a variety of ways and is widely recognised for his leading roles in promoting herd health planning and disease control programmes.
His expertise and sensible approach to industry issues makes him respected by policy makers and dairy farmers alike, said Mark Allen, Dairy Crest’s executive managing director in his address to the audience which included leading lights from all sectors of the industry.
As well as being a vet, Mr Sibley was former national secretary and the President of the British Cattle Veterinary Association. As President he was the only practicing vet on the Foot and Mouth Disease Advisory Group set up by the Government as the epidemic got out of control, He was also chairman of the BCVA BSE Group, bringing him into close contact with BSE policy.
He is a former director of the National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme and a current member of the Technical Advisory Committee that sets and reviews standards.
He is a member of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor FMD Group and a member of the DEFRA Bovine TB Forum.
Mr Sibley is creator of the BCVA Herd Health Plan template and software which allows vets to create and maintain farm specific health plans that endeavour to promote best health and welfare alongside efficient production. He has also been the principal trainer of vets (over 750 to date) in the use of this system, and is a current member of the English Implementation group set up to facilitate the delivery of the DEFRA Health and Welfare Strategy.
Mr Sibley has previously been awarded the RASE Bledisloe Award for his outstanding contribution to animal health – mainly for his work on strategies for BSE, TB and FMD; the RABDF Princess Anne Award for contributions to disease control in the dairy sector; and an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in recognition of his contributions
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Vet Wins Top Award
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