Loading ...Vets moving away from farm visits
Nick Blayney, President of the British Veterinary Association, speaking at the annual Scottish BVA meeting in Edinburgh stated that by 2015 there may only be 25 mixed veterinary practices left to cover the whole of Scotland.
In the past year 2 of the 100 mixed practices (serving both domestic pets and farm animals) have ceased farm work and now only deal with “companion” animals.
The Press & Journal reported that “He warned the UK’s Animal Health agency that vets were threatening to stop the government work or become more selective in the tests they undertake.” but The Courier send a stronger message quoting Mr Blayney as saying “at two recent meetings in the north, one in Inverness in February, and the other in Huntly, there was an air of militancy.”
Both articles state that some vets are earning less than minimum wage to carry out testing of farm animals. Having just written a series of posts on the issue of bovine tb and testing I find this totally unacceptable.
Farming practices have changed in line with public demand for animal welfare, which I wholeheartedly support but if government payments for testing are so low that vets will cease testing then what will that do for farm animal welfare and the spread of disease?
This is not simply a matter of greed on the part of vets and is most certainly not limited to vets in Scotland.
Yes I have tutted when I see the vet arrive in his new Range Rover and almost fainted when I opened the bill but I have also been full of respect and gratitude when he saved our best bull and weaved his magic with our sickly flock of sheep.
This is my main concern, if more vets move away from farm visits then how will newly qualified vets gain experience with large animals? Our young vets come across cases that baffle them but a quick call or visit from the senior vets will usually quickly find the solution. There is simply no substitute for experience but young vets become old vets and without farm visit experience who will treat farm animals.
Farmers already think twice these days before calling out the vet, the cost of the vet visit has to be weighed against the value of the animal, adding further traveling costs and waiting time can only add to the possible suffering of farm animals.
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