DPIRD Workshop
Last week I voluntarily attended a two day workshop at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (aka the agricultural department). Unfortunately for me, the scheduled days alternated with my rostered night shifts at the equine hospital, meaning, aside from the odd power nap, I was awake from 9am on Monday to 9pm on Wednesday! That’s 60 hours of sleep deprivation that I brought on myself!
Despite having to physically hold my eyelids apart (because no amount of caffeine can substitute two nights of sleep), the workshop was well worth it. Only five students attended, so the training was interactive and hands on. Field vets, pathologists and other specialists contributed to the course, each imparting a wealth of knowledge and advice. A wide range of topics were covered over the two days, including:
What to expect on our first farm visit
Necropsies and sampling
Disease surveillance and reportable diseases
Foot and mouth disease (FMD)
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)
Avian necropsies and diseases
Utilising the significant disease investigation (SDI) subsidy scheme
Welfare
Nutrition
