Vet call out charges
- Thread starter nelly55
- Start date
livestock 1
Member
Sometimes we get a passing call out where vet has been called but not an emergency and it’s cheap £25
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Yes they vary by both area and vet practice, our vets have bands depending on distance, I seem to recall we’re band 2 at about £25. and about 7 miles.
Mate was telling me his niece is a vet down south somewhere and their cheapest call out is £60
Mate was telling me his niece is a vet down south somewhere and their cheapest call out is £60
mtx135
Member
- Location
- south east
Ours are in the region of £150 an hour and used to be no call out but last time I had a pre booked appointment I think it was £25 then hourly rate while they were here.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Relative to hourly rate and drug prices. I’m personally against call out charges based on distance. Why penalise someone who wants to use you especially as farm vets rarely go practice to the farm then back to the practice, normally a round of calls.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
This sounds cheap compared to a dealer mechanic. 
- Location
- N.Lincs
Just think of a number and add some on
Last year we exported some semen to the USA (and in turn to Canada and NZ). We needed extensive tests, whilst the tups were in isolation, which required the vet to have passed various 'boards' (in order to be qualified to complete the paperwork) - that guy charged by the minute
Last year we exported some semen to the USA (and in turn to Canada and NZ). We needed extensive tests, whilst the tups were in isolation, which required the vet to have passed various 'boards' (in order to be qualified to complete the paperwork) - that guy charged by the minute
mtx135
Member
- Location
- south east
I can get my main dealer for 2 hours and my vet for 1
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
Im a about an hour away from our vets, same call out as if right next door.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Just think of a number and add some on
Last year we exported some semen to the USA (and in turn to Canada and NZ). We needed extensive tests, whilst the tups were in isolation, which required the vet to have passed various 'boards' (in order to be qualified to complete the paperwork) - that guy charged by the minute
I’ve just sent some sheep to Russia, as part of a consignment. I filled all the paperwork in as much as I could, ready for the vet (who had done that course), as it was just simpler that way.
Our vet has banded call out charges, which I think is a great idea as my nearest gateway is about 150m from the surgery. Hourly rate is the same wherever you live though.
I do try to pop most sheep round to the surgery though, in order to at least save the call out, as well as utilise whatever subsidised health programs I can.
- Location
- N.Lincs
We did the same, just needed his 'autograph' and the results attaching but it was still a fair old bill.
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
Why should vet call outs be any different to mechanics call outs where you pay travelling time.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
As I said I don’t think it’s right to penalise someone if you really want their business. Plus vet rarely go practice to farm to practice, it’s normally a round of calls or you may end up travelling one side of the area to the other. Does the second farmer get a massive bill then? Just because a farm is next door to the practice doesn’t mean the vet drove there from the practice. What happens out of hours when vets travel from their homes? Standard call out charges are the simplest and fairest. They should be designed to cover the cost of running the vehicle and a standard amount of time.
matthew
Member
- Location
- Cornwall, SW England
Perhaps we’d been spoilt, but our previous vet, who had now sold the large animal practise, was £16.50 call out. Then the work plus drugs.
The competition are £29 call out, but the lot who bought the old vet out are £35 call out.
Makes a huge difference to pre MT cattle as two visits charged for before they’ve even looked at the animals.
And lambing sheep ? Mmmmm. Daughter asked for help lambing a ewe with triplets. Let’s just say that when the bill came, the vet had ‘bought’ the Berluddy sheep. All four.
The competition are £29 call out, but the lot who bought the old vet out are £35 call out.
Makes a huge difference to pre MT cattle as two visits charged for before they’ve even looked at the animals.
And lambing sheep ? Mmmmm. Daughter asked for help lambing a ewe with triplets. Let’s just say that when the bill came, the vet had ‘bought’ the Berluddy sheep. All four.
- Location
- Romney Marsh
Vets fees always appear expensive, but as they offer a 24 hour service and normally are with you within an hour of a phone call, they are actually good value really........ especially if you only use them once or twice a year.
Steevo
Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Nice perspective. If you spread it out across the whole of the "herd" I guess they appear even more reasonable too.
Often we pay insurance without getting anything back other than peace of mind. So knowing you can call on a vet like that is better than insurance because you only pay when you need it. As I said, spread that cost across the whole herd (that with insurance you are insuring anyway) it looks very cheap.
Good point that - imagine if vets did an AA/RAC type system where you paid a fixed fee per year which covered you if you needed it. Same idea as insurance really I guess.
Pistonbroke
Member
My twelve year old daughter has been hell bent on being a vet since she was three. Fingers crossed!
She too can be dragged from her bed 7 days a week to sort out farmers mistakes only to be whinged at about the bill at as if she called them