Giiving up farm work?

Re: Giiving up farm work?

An On MRCVS — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:03:33 GMT

In answer to Michael about the staff: it's half and half. Some like it, some don't and it might be age-related!

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

...so I decided I no longer had my heart in it!

...I am not sure about the profit side of things but I stopped because my enthusiasm had gone and looking back on it the lack of CPD and learning available meant I was not good enough at it any way!

[/quote]

This as well. Turnover is static, so profit declining and the LA side is really there just to justify the fourth vet. It is not the profit that is the real decision-maker, just more of a question about mid-size practices under pressure and how you manage with 24 hour cover when no OOH provider is around. Having said that, there is no doubt that the LA work doesn't pay the wages of the fourth vet and breaking point will be reached eventually. Increasing SA is possible - maybe - but competition in the future is going to increase not decrease and an answer must be found.

Re: Giiving up farm work?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:51:21 GMT

I enjoyed cattle work when I 1st qualified, but as farms became bigger, and the individual cow became less important, it got more and more like pig and poultry work-all herd health whilst it was the fire brigade work I enjoyed 1996-BSE and the 30 month scheme was the last straw I didn't do A level physics to sign slaughter certs

Wynne

Re: Giiving up farm work?

Bob Russell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:25:17 GMT

Many years ago I decided that if I left a calving feeling as bad as I went to them it would be time to get out of large animal work. I have never managed to drum up a lot of enthusiasm to drive miles to a calving at 11pm or 5am. I always came away feeling the 'magic' or disappointment but satisfaction that I had done my best if the outcome was not good.

I went out to a cow calving at 2am. It was subzero, there was only a grumpy stockman. It all went well but I was so fed up with the attitude and lack of gratitude that I knew that time had come. The agricultural world had changed so much. There were no longer enough staff on farms. The cups of tea and a chat after, the banter and fun were getting rarer so I decided I no longer had my heart in it!

Some areas must still have this but the New Forest has lost most of it. When I moved here there were lots of small family run farms and it was a great way of life. Steadily this has gone.

I am not sure about the profit side of things but I stopped because my enthusiasm had gone and looking back on it the lack of CPD and learning available meant I was not good enough at it any way!

Every now and then I really miss it though!!

Re: Giiving up farm work?

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:23:24 GMT

Do your vets enjoy farm work? There is more to life than just pure profit - I could not stomach been stuck inside pet vetting all day. Now don't forget that the farm clients will also bring you small animal work that may go to the 'new' vet who takes over the farm work.

Myself if the vets enjoy the work and it makes some money then having your finger in more pies can be safer. Farm animals are worth money and farmers are spending now when pets aren't. Our turnover and profit has gone up nicely for the last 4 years despite a recession and that's driven by the large animal side. Think there's pet vets struggling.