TWO Whitchurch vets have boosted their knowledge of cattle fertility, so they are even better placed to help farmers achieve higher levels of productivity.

Jenny Bellini and Rob Hall, of LLM Farm Vets in Whitchurch, have been awarded a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from the University of Liverpool.

They studied part-time for the two-year Master’s-level diploma while continuing to work at the veterinary practice, which is committed to helping the livestock industry improve its performance through best practice and the highest levels of animal care.

The diploma course aims to help vets better support farmers by giving them a deeper understanding of all aspects of bovine reproduction, including the oestrus cycle, embryo development and nutrition.

As well as attending study modules with the University of Liverpool, Jenny and Rob completed coursework, had their practical skills assessed and produced a dissertation based on a research project.

Jenny’s research focused on sub-clinical milk fever and its effects on fertility and Rob looked at factors affecting bull semen quality.

Jenny said: “I’m proud that all our hard work has paid off.

"Bovine reproduction is the bread and butter of being a farm vet and it’s great to have expanded my skill set even further so we are able to provide our clients’ herds with a truly proactive service.”

Rob added that he was motivated to undertake the diploma in order to continue his professional development.

He said: "There’s always more to learn, and as farm vets we should be looking to build on our knowledge base for the good of our clients.

"We’re hoping that what we’ve learnt will help a range of our clients.”

The DBR qualification is also held by LLM’s Ian Cure, Mike Christie, Bill May and Simon Kin