Background | ISVA Governance
Establishment of an international organisation of veterinarians
with a special interest in sheep
While the first International Sheep Veterinary Congress (ISVC) was held in Edinburgh in 1985, the establishment of a complementary world sheep veterinary association did not occur until 2005 after the ISVC held in Greece (Crete).
At that congress a group of veterinarians from countries which had held past congressesdiscussed how best form an international sheep veterinary organisation.
It was proposed that asmall founding group comprising officially designated members from countries that had already held congresses (UK, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Greece) should take the initiative.
Norway (by virtue of their being awarded the congress in 2009) and USA / Canada (American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners) were also involved.
This founding group drafted and accepted a constitution which formed the basis for the International SheepVeterinary Association.
Since then, the Executive Committee of the ISVA and the Member Countries, have reached out globally to other veterinarians and veterinary groups with a special interest in sheep health. The ISVA continues to grow and evolve – and guided by it, the International Sheep Veterinary Congress continues to engage veterinarians from around the world in educational opportunities and advocacy for the health of sheep.