A Specialist Consultancy Service for the Animal Health Industry

After 5 years in practice and 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, David Burch, a veterinarian and Director of Octagon Services set up the company in 1999 to offer a specialist consultancy service to the animal health industry. With broad experience in technical services, development and marketing, in particular in the pig and poultry antimicrobial field, he has been able to assist a number of International Companies to develop, register and market their products.

With a keen interest in clinical pharmacology and an extensive experience in the testing and correct use of antimicrobials, David has published over 100 papers and articles in scientific and industry press on pig and poultry diseases and their treatment and control. He produces 'The Pig Journal' the biannual publication of the UK's Pig Veterinary Society and recently wrote 'Antibacterials: Products and Markets' (140 pages) published by Animal Pharm Reports. David is a member of the Association of Veterinary Consultants (a European consultancy group) and is an advisor on antimicrobial resistance issues. He is also section editor on "Antimicrobial Resistance" for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians news service.

In 2006 he was awarded the Diploma (de facto) of the European College of Porcine Health Management and in May 2006 was elected president of the Pig Veterinary Society, a specialist division of the British Veterinary Association.