About
The Goat Veterinary Society is a specialist species division of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and was formed in 1979 to promote interest in and improve knowledge of goats within the veterinary profession.
Full membership is open to all veterinary surgeons, and research fellows. Associate membership is for all those with an interest in goat husbandry and commercial goat farming. Membership is open to persons both in the UK and globally. Discounted membership is available for students.
Society activities include a virtual and in-person conference meeting each year, the annual publication of the Goat Veterinary Society Journal and regular email updates for members. Information sheets on aspects of goat husbandry and medicine are available for members, as well as a digital library of articles and past GVS journals, and recordings of past virtual conferences.
The Goat Veterinary Society is a professional society, to which veterinary surgeons may turn for advice.
Ben first got involved with GVS in 2004 when as a veterinary student he undertook a research project looking at goat scrapie. This led to the identification of the first recorded naturally occurring case of BSE in a goat and his work was published as part of his BSc in Veterinary Pathology. Ben joined GVS committee in 2011 and become secretary in 2013
Nick qualified in 1989, spent five years in mixed practice in Devon before moving to concentrate on dairy cattle work in Somerset. From early in his career, Nick developed a keen interest in goats and worked with several large dairy goat herds as well as the usual client mix of pet and small pedigree goat keepers. Nick joined the Goat Veterinary Society as a member early in his practising life, later joining the committee where he is currently President. After 24 years in practice, Nick joined the Veterinary Defence Society as a Farm Animal Claims Consultant.
David is a veterinary surgeon and fellow of the RCVS qualifying in 1974. He spent the major part of his career as a veterinary investigation officer and pathologist in APHA, and is currently a visiting reader in vet pathology at Surrey Vet School. He is a BGS Hon Vet, and a past president of BCVA. He is author of “The Veterinary Guide to Goat Health and Welfare,” co-author of “Goat Medicine and Surgery,” and has a published autobiography “Rural Tranquilly to National Crisis a Farm Vets Story.” He is currently the GVS Journal editor and Hon Pro.
Yasmine qualified from Bristol in 2019, and started in farm practice in Cheshire that year. She had a keen interest in goats fostered from working as a dairy goat relief milker and looking after meat goats on conservation grazing in Somerset. She has published an original research paper observing the behaviour of periparturient does and kids, and enjoys helping vets, students and farmers learn more about goats. She joined the GVS committee in 2021 as Webmaster and became Hon Secretary in 2023.
Qualified from Liverpool in 2008, Bryony has been working in farm practice ever since. She is a Director at Tyndale Vets in Gloucestershire where she does the majority of the dairy goat work on some large commercial units and some smaller farms. She has developed a real interest in goat advanced breeding. Bryony joined the GVS committee in 2018 and has become the Treasurer in 2020.