Students make the most of the 2016 AVS congress.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: AVS Congress 2016 The Association of Veterinary Students' 2016 congress, hosted at the University of Liverpool, brought together a broad range of educational topics spanning production animal management, equine reproduction, and professional wellbeing. Rather than a focused research investigation, this event report highlights the congress's multidisciplinary programming, which addressed contemporary challenges including the intersection of large-scale dairy production systems with fertility outcomes, reproductive management strategies in horses, and mental health awareness within veterinary workforces. By combining clinical and production-focused content with discussions around psychological resilience and support networks, the congress reflected growing recognition that equine and production animal practice requires not only technical competence but also understanding of systemic issues affecting both animal and practitioner health. For equine professionals attending similar conferences, the inclusion of mental health discussions alongside clinical topics underscores the profession's evolving awareness that sustainable practice depends on supporting the wellbeing of those delivering animal care. This type of broad-spectrum professional development remains valuable for practitioners seeking to contextualise their specialist work—whether in farriery, nutrition, or veterinary medicine—within the wider landscape of equine health and industry sustainability.

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Key Findings

• •The 2016 AVS congress at University of Liverpool covered diverse topics including dairy production systems, equine fertility practices, and mental health in veterinary profession.
• •Congress program addressed both clinical veterinary subjects and professional wellbeing issues relevant to veterinary students.