Mr John Fishwick
MA VetMB DCHP DipECBHM FHEA FRCVS PGCertVetEd
Associate Professor of Dairy Herd Medicine
Department: Pathobiology & Population Sciences
Campus: Hawkshead
Research Groups: Sustainable Food Systems, IRLFS (Research Programme)
Clinical Groups: Farm Animal Health
Associate Professor in Dairy Herd Medicine and course director of BVetMed degree and joint course director of the BVSc degree..
John is a Diplomate of the European College of Bovine Health Management and was the first person to gain the RCVS Diploma in Cattle Health and Production. He is a European Specialist in Bovine Health Management and a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production. He is former President of the British Veterinary Association, with particular responsibility for livestock diseases, antimicrobial resistance and the responsible use of medicines. He was previously President of the British Cattle Veterinary Association and of the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Veterinary Association. He was examiner in Production Animals for the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination and previously chair of the RCVS Specialisation Sub-Committee. He has been on the Editorial Board of the open access journal Veterinary Evidence, which is published by RCVS Knowledge. He was appointed as a Fellow of the RCVS in 2020 for Meritorious Contribution to the Profession.
At the RVC was head of the new formed Department of Production and Population Health from 2012 to 2016 and was previously Senior Clinical Tutor and director of the Biological Services Unit.
He qualified from Cambridge University in 1985 with an intercalated degree in Pharmacology. After 4 years in mixed agricultural practice in Cheshire he moved to a mixed practice in Essex for 18 months before being appointed as Lecturer in Farm Animal Practice at the RVC in 1990 with responsibility for running the college's ambulatory clinic. In 1997 he was appointed Head Veterinarian to Almarai Ltd the world's largest fully integrated dairy company in Saudi Arabia with 25,000 high yielding cows. He returned to the RVC in 2003 as Senior Lecturer in Dairy Herd Medicine.
John was formally Head Veterinary Surgeon on the Hertfordshire County Show and as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Royal Smithfield Society. He was awarded the British Cattel Veterinary Association award for outstanding contribution in 2013.
John has previously been involved in research in a range of areas including Pestiviruses and biosecurity. He was a member of the RUMA alliance and the RUMA Antimicrobial Targets Task Force. He was livestock editor of the journal In Practice for seven years.
Fitzsimmonds HM, Tunstall J, Fishwick JC, Mahendran SA (2024)
Assessment of the Intra- and Inter-observer reliability of beef cattle mobility scoring performed by UK veterinarians and beef farmers.
Ruminants 16 Oct 2024 DOI: 10.3390/ruminants4040033
Fitzsimmonds HM, Fishwick JC, Mahendran S (2024)
Survey assessing foot trimmer involvement in managing lameness in UK beef cattle.
Veterinary Record 3 July 2024 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4151
Loeffler A, Beever L, Chang Yu-Mei, Klein B, Kostka V, Meyer C, Muller E, Weis J, Wildermuth B, Fishwick JC, Lloyd DH (2023)
Intervention with impact: Reduced isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs following the introduction of antimicrobial prescribing legislation in Germany Veterinary Record 15 December 2023 DOI 10.1002/vetr.3714
Prior S, Blackie N, Fishwick JC, Mahendran S (2023)
Randomised control trial investigating the efficacy of Meloxicam and Salicylate Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for calf cautery disbudding (2023)
Animals 24 May 2023 DOI 10.3390/ani13111768
Vanhoudt A, van Winden S, Fishwick J, Bell NJ (2015) Monitoring cow comfort and rumen health indices in a cubicle-housed herd with automatic milking systems: a repeated measures approach
Irish Veterinary Journal 2015 Jun 12;:68(1) 12 doi 10.1186/s13620-015-00040-7 and Aug 27; 68(1):19 doi 10.1186/s13620-015-0046-7
Illambas J, Potter T, Cheng Z, Rycroft A, Fishwick J, Lees P (2013) Pharmacodynamics of marbofloxacin for calf pneumonia pathogens.
Research in Veterinary Science 94 (2013) 675-681 DOI 10.1016?J.RVCS.2012.12.012
Roberts J and Fishwick J (2010): Teat Surgery in Dairy Cattle
In Practice 32 388-396 DOI 101136/Inp.c4574
Potter TJ, Guitian J, Fishwick JC, Gordon PJ, Sheldon IM (2010): Risk Factors for Clinical Endometritis in Postpartum Dairy Cattle
Theriogenology 74 124-134 DOI: 10.1016/j/theriogenology.2010.01.023
Hutber M, Kitching RP, Fishwick J and Bires J (2010): Foot-and-mouth disease: the question of implementing vaccinal control during an epidemic
The Veterinary Journal (DOI 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.02.018).
Cardwell, J; Van Winden, S; Beauvais, W; Mastin, A; De Glanville, WA; Hardstaff, J; Booth, R E; Fishwick, J; Pfeiffer, DU (2016)
Assessing the impact of tailored biosecurity advice on farmer behaviour and pathogen presence in beef herds in England and Wales
Preventative Veterinary Medicine 135, 9-16 (2016)
John has taught on most aspects of the production animal teaching on the BVetMed degree. He was teaching coordinator of the department of PPS from 2019-2023 and has been convenor for the final veterinary examinations from 2019-2022. He has a Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Education and holds Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He is currently the director of the BVetMed degree and codirector of the BVSc degree.
Having been an active production animal clinician throughout his working life John now does only limited clinical work and concentrates on teaching and course management
John has made numerous appearences in the media, most notably on BBCTV and Radio dealing with FMD, Avian Influenza, Schmallenburg virus and Brachcephalic dogs. He is frequently involved in student recruitment and admissions activities.