Name: Sara Pedersen MRCVS

Mobile: 07545 431800

Email: sara.pedersen@agrisgop.cymru

Location: Vale of Glamorgan/Operates throughout South Wales 

Specialism(s):  Cattle health and welfare with a focus on cow comfort and cattle mobility

  • Veterinary surgeon and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production, Sara Pedersen’s main focus is to provide sustainable, cost-effective solutions to improve animal health and welfare, based on evidence-based research and cost-benefit analysis. Sara’s varied client base includes individual farm businesses, nutritional and pharmaceutical companies and national bodies including AHDB and Farming Connect.  
  • A highly experienced vet, trainer and researcher, Sara has undertaken numerous projects for Farming Connect and AHDB (Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board) including the development and delivery of Master Lameness courses and the co-ordination of lameness projects on a number of demonstration sites. 
  • Sara has had a long-standing career in animal health and related topics, working directly with farmers, animal health organisations and academia.  She works within her Vale of Glamorgan-based business – Farm Dynamics - which provides a national and international consultancy service to agri-businesses and the delivery of farmer and veterinary educational programmes.  
  • A confident and relaxed communicator, her significant experience, knowledge and skills have brought her into direct contact with a huge number of individuals and organisations, giving her access to a wide network of experts and specialists.   One of her more recent roles with Farming Connect resulted in her managing a farmer-led EIP-funded project on cattle mobility and lameness - a topic she’s looking forward to addressing in her new role as an Agrisgôp leader.    
  • Sara has delivered numerous courses, workshops and conference presentations for Farming Connect, the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board and AHDB.  She is also involved in the training for accreditation of veterinary and foot trimmer instructors for the Lantra-approved programme of foot trimming courses delivered by BCVA/CHCSB, as well as being involved in a number of clinical trials.  

Relevant experience/skills/qualifications  

  • RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production (March 2015 - present) 
  • Part-time PhD with the University of Nottingham (2017 - present) for an AHDB-funded research project assessing foot trimming technique in dairy cattle 
  • RCVS Diploma in Bovine Reproduction (2010-2012) University of Liverpool 
  • RCVS Certificate in Cattle Health and Production (2009)
  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine Royal Veterinary College, University of London (1999-2005)
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Zoology 2002 (2:1), University of Bristol (2001-2002)

Additional roles

  • Member of the Welsh Government Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group since June 2021 
  • Member of the Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group since 2018 
  • Joint Honorary Secretary of British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) since 2016 (lead on education).

Current academic positions

  • Guest Lecturer, University of Aberystwyth (since 2022). 
  • Examiner for Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Farm). 

Additional instructional roles

  • Instructor for the BCVA/CHCSB Lantra Approved Foot Trimming Courses (since 2022) 
  • AHDB Healthy Feet Programme Mobility Mentor Trainer (since July 2020)
  • Register of Mobility Scorers Approved Instructor (since April 2020) 
  • Lantra Awards Instructor through attendance of ‘Train the Trainer’ course (December 2014)