AVA Conference Melbourne 2017

Dairy practice varies significantly throughout the world and is rapidly changing. Farmers are looking at substituting services which would previously have been considered to have been vet only. Medicines are now a commodity where prices are easily compared and margins constantly being reduced. In the US, medicines and vaccines are sold with a profit margin of 5 to 10%.

Vet fire Brigade and sick cow work is decreasing in most countries due to improved skill sets, larger farm sizes and availability of a wide range of medicines on farm. In Denmark, vets carry out very little fertility work as this is delivered by semen companies. Similar changes are occurring in the US. Some large dairies in the US use vets for writing prescriptions and checking treatment protocols only. Many large farms now want and are prepared to pay for specialist vet services. All of the above helps us look to how vet practices might change and adapt in the future