Like Our Own

The son of a distinguished veterinary professor, Andrew is an internationally recognised academic despite being immersed in everyday general practice since joining as a new graduate in 1981. He now acts as an international consultant on mastitis, tuberculosis and cattle health in general. A past president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, he was awarded the BVA Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal in 2015 and has recently been awarded the title of Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice. He has written and lectured extensively and produced his own textbook “Mastitis in Cattle” as well as setting up and running The Vale Veterinary Laboratory.

P.S. if you need a good game of squash, Andy is your man!

Martyn graduated from Bristol in 1988, and gained the Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University in 2001. Martyn is particularly interested in the cost of disease on dairy farms, and monitoring the cost – benefits of veterinary intervention. He enjoys teaching the BCVA foundation course, and is also a DairyCo Mobility Mentor with a keen interest in lameness on dairy farms. Also a musician, you may well see him on a stage near you as Martyn plays in a number of local bands.

Originally from a farming family in Yorkshire, Duncan qualified from The Royal Veterinary College in 1995, followed by a short stint in Herefordshire before joining The Vale. Duncan has a dynamic interest in dairy and beef health, especially fertility. He now travels throughout the South West and beyond as team leader of The Vale Embryo Transfer and Advanced Sheep Breeding Services. He now speaks fluent Devonshire, to his French cows (having his own herd of Charolais cattle at home)!

Originally from Cullompton Dan studied at Liverpool University before joining The Vale in 2006. He enjoys all aspects of herd and flock management with particular interests in nutrition, lameness, and cow comfort as well as organising and running farmer training courses and discussion groups. Dan is a trained DairyCo Mobility Mentor and DairyCo Mastitis Plan deliverer. When not in work or walking his spaniel Dan’s interests include mountain biking, shooting, and surfing.

Louise completes our international team being from Northern Ireland. She combines a busy family life alongside working part time, having a great depth of experience on the farm side. Lou is also a keen hockey player and can often be found wielding a hockey stick on a Saturday afternoon!

Fi graduated from Liverpool University in 2011 having won the farm animal clinical prize in her final year. Fi has a particular interest in cattle fertility and especially youngstock rearing and has recently helped set up our new Youngstock Programmes and is currently studying for a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction. Outside of work Fi enjoys keeping fit, being a keen runner, as well as travelling.

Anna-Mae graduated from Glasgow University in 2015 and joined The Vale straight from college. Having grown up on a dairy farm in Northern Ireland she has particular interests in cattle lameness as well as youngstock rearing. Outside of work she is a keen hockey player, and is currently playing for Exe Hockey Club.

Maddi joined The Vale after graduating from Bristol University in 2017. Growing up in Somerset on a small holding she has developed an interest in all aspects of farming in particular small ruminant work and lameness in dairy herds. In her free time she enjoys climbing, walking and skiing.

Mireille joined the Vale after graduating from Liverpool University in 2017. Originally from Gloucestershire she’s always been keen to be a farm vet and is particularly interested in dairy fertility and sheep. She enjoys kayaking, travelling and getting to know the area with her lurcher.

Emily joined The Vale after graduating from Nottingham University in 2019. Originally from Essex, she developed a keen interest in becoming a farm vet whilst working as a relief milker at her local dairy. Emily is interested in all aspects of farm animal medicine, particularly preventative medicine and data analysis. In her free time she enjoys the gym, hiking, scuba diving and going to rugby

Our friendly farmer from Exmoor, with many years of experience in general practice and also for DEFRA, Bridget manages to combine TB testing duties at The Vale along with running her large mixed farm.