The downward spiral of cattle veterinary practice

Royal Veterinary College, London.

Farm work for the cattle veterinary practitioner has declined in recent years, and further decline seems inevitable. With fewer dairy farms, and cattle farmers calling upon the veterinary surgeon less frequently, mixed practices are able to compensate by spending ever more time on small animal and horse work. But as cattle farmers know full well that younger veterinary surgeons are getting ever less experience with cattle, they are even less inclined to consult them. Here, I review the reasons for the downward spiral, and look for some solutions.