Ruminant Health & Welfare chair’s tireless work acknowledged in New Year Honours List

Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) chair Gwyn Jones said it is a privilege to have been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in The King’s New Year Honours List.

Awarded the BEM for services to animal health and welfare, Gwyn has spent more than 30 years championing practical, industry-led progress on farm animal health and welfare, bridging hands-on livestock farming with national policy and strategy work.

Brought up on a farm in North Wales, Gwyn has been based in West Sussex for more than 40 years where he ran a successful dairy farm for 30 years. He now runs a mixed enterprise with his daughter Gwenan.

He has chaired RH&W since late 2023, bringing deep experience, credibility and connections across the livestock sector to support the group’s mission and momentum.

Gwyn said: “It is always a team effort, and I have been fortunate in having good people on my team.”

As well as his RH&W roles, he is an active member of Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Board for England developing the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, and responsibilities for cattle and liaison with devolved governments. He also chairs the BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) eradication scheme in England.

He Chaired of RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) for seven years, before setting up a sister organisation RUMA Companion Animal and Equine. He also chaired EPRUMA, the European equivalent.

Before Brexit, Gwyn chaired the COPA-Cogeca Animal Health and Welfare Working Group, and has held a number of influential advisory roles, including as an active member of FAWC (Farm Animal Welfare Council) for 10 years; a member of the BVA Welfare and Ethics Group, and a member of the University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine’s External Liaison and Advisory Committee.