Vet charges

[Uggman]

Just joining a vet practice and to isuse any medicine they want to come see my sheep first but a charging a visit of 30pounds and a sheep check of 40 +vat so makes it 90 ish quid which I haven't really got a problem with but they said there have to do this every year which I think is just a license to print money but I might be a tight arse farmer type is this normal or not?
Ps we've only got 30 ewes.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Just joining a vet practice and to isuse any medicine they want to come see my sheep first but a charging a visit of 30pounds and a sheep check of 40 +vat so makes it 90 ish quid which I haven't really got a problem with but they said there have to do this every year which I think is just a license to print money but I might be a tight arse farmer type is this normal or not?
Ps we've only got 30 ewes.

Where are you?
You are very lucky that is what they are charging, many would put a one in front of those numbers!!

 

[Timbo]

Just joining a vet practice and to isuse any medicine they want to come see my sheep first but a charging a visit of 30pounds and a sheep check of 40 +vat so makes it 90 ish quid which I haven't really got a problem with but they said there have to do this every year which I think is just a license to print money but I might be a tight arse farmer type is this normal or not?
Ps we've only got 30 ewes.

That's cheap !

 

[gone up the hill]

Just joining a vet practice and to isuse any medicine they want to come see my sheep first but a charging a visit of 30pounds and a sheep check of 40 +vat so makes it 90 ish quid which I haven't really got a problem with but they said there have to do this every year which I think is just a license to print money but I might be a tight arse farmer type is this normal or not?
Ps we've only got 30 ewes.

Yes they have to do that by law.

If they do not they would be struck off as vets and unable to practice!

 

[milkloss]

See how you get on. I should imagine the odd visit throughout the year and conversation at the practice might negate the need for a yearly visit/charge.

 

[topground]

If you have agreed a fixed rate make sure you get your moneys worth. Keep them talking for hours while picking their brains on sheep health.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

They aren’t allowed to sell us drugs for the stock without visiting the farm at least once a year. It’s easy for us with cattle as a TB test counts as a vet visit. If we didn’t have that it’s £25 visit charge then £90/hour (divide it down for 15 min sheep check )

 

[Dry Rot]

The girl who grazes a horse here is new to the area, so new to the vet. Pony needed the routine flu' and tet' vaccination. She had to signup for a routine visit costing a lot more than the annual vaccination. Another way to enforce the vet monopoly.

I actually use several vets, each has their speciality and I won't subscribed to monopolies. One complained that I never call him out. I replied, that's because my animals are not sick. Where did this idea come from that if you don't call the vet out regularly, you are a neglectful owner?

 

[tr250]

Buy yourself a calf they will need to come out to tb test it once a year for free

 

[milkloss]

The girl who grazes a horse here is new to the area, so new to the vet. Pony needed the routine flu' and tet' vaccination. She had to signup for a routine visit costing a lot more than the annual vaccination. Another way to enforce the vet monopoly.

I actually use several vets, each has their speciality and I won't subscribed to monopolies. One complained that I never call him out. I replied, that's because my animals are not sick. Where did this idea come from that if you don't call the vet out regularly, you are a neglectful owner?

Doing well to manage that. I wanted some blood profiles done on the cattle a few years back and our regular local vets admitted it was a bit beyond their experience and knowledge. So I rang westpoint because they were suggested to me and was hoping to get a consultation about the test and results. They were most unhelpful and dismissive…… animals not in our care or some twaddle. Probably saved me a fortune anyway and I will never pick up the phone to that scum again.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I have a feeling I need a vet visit too for my farm assurance (with FAWL), I think last time we tried to do one visit that would count towards two years worth (maybe it was my organic inspection, can't remember as both done at the same time).

 

[BAF]

Vets can be their own worst enemies. Had an out of hours call out last spring and then a week later another in hours call out. Both similar problems. The out of hours took longer. I got charged 1/3 more for the in hours call! I phoned them and they basically said it is what it is, I got a little bit cross when I said for all that money I'd got a cull ewe and 2 dead lambs and I'd have been better off just shooting her and buying a replacement. They still didn't change the bill!

 

[delilah]

Doing well to manage that. I wanted some blood profiles done on the cattle a few years back and our regular local vets admitted it was a bit beyond their experience and knowledge. So I rang westpoint because they were suggested to me and was hoping to get a consultation about the test and results. They were most unhelpful and dismissive…… animals not in our care or some twaddle. Probably saved me a fortune anyway and I will never pick up the phone to that scum again.

We owe Westpoint a four figure sum going back 5 years, they have chased it periodically and then in recent months had their debt collection agency sending threatening letters with added on admin charges. Then most recently had a very conciliatory letter from said debt collectors saying they now understand that there is a reason we haven't paid and would we like to arrive at an amicable settlement. No, we wouldn't.

 

[ollie989898]

I have a feeling I need a vet visit too for my farm assurance (with FAWL), I think last time we tried to do one visit that would count towards two years worth (maybe it was my organic inspection, can't remember as both done at the same time).

You won't sell milk to anyone without a herd health plan and clear veterinary care in place these days- milk buyers won't accept it. The ones around hereabouts are getting a lot stiffer on what kind of milk production they will and will not accept.

To be honest, the days of vets handing out a shed load of drugs for farmers to do as they wish are fast disappearing anyway. I know a lot of dairy farmers who don't actually use that much stuff aside from vaccines. I think even cattle wormers were probably over-used in the past in all honesty. People are a lot more mindful of the cost of this stuff now and manage their cattle/youngstock differently. A lot of emphasis on hygiene these days as well.

 

[som farmer]

RT requirements for our dairy
herd health plan drawn up by vets
johnes plan, drawn up by vets
A/B usage, and type of a/b we use
next will be BVD
then TB
funny they can't do them all at the same time.

then there are the voluntary/ compulsory courses they want you to do...........

 

[ollie989898]

RT requirements for our dairy
herd health plan drawn up by vets
johnes plan, drawn up by vets
A/B usage, and type of a/b we use
next will be BVD
then TB
funny they can't do them all at the same time.

then there are the voluntary/ compulsory courses they want you to do...........

You would think the government should just stipulate that everyone vaccinates for BVD, Lepto and IBR and we do away with the diseases forever. There is talk of the dairies rejecting milk from red Johnes cows as well or something like that (maybe not accepting milk from herds with red cows in?) can't remember what the boss told me now.

 

[som farmer]

You won't sell milk to anyone without a herd health plan and clear veterinary care in place these days- milk buyers won't accept it. The ones around hereabouts are getting a lot stiffer on what kind of milk production they will and will not accept.

To be honest, the days of vets handing out a shed load of drugs for farmers to do as they wish are fast disappearing anyway. I know a lot of dairy farmers who don't actually use that much stuff aside from vaccines. I think even cattle wormers were probably over-used in the past in all honesty. People are a lot more mindful of the cost of this stuff now and manage their cattle/youngstock differently. A lot of emphasis on hygiene these days as well.

a local farmer, had a list of things to do, as usual, for RT.
all done, except for a lock on an internal door, he'd forgotten, send a photo by 5.00 today, to show you have done it, ok.
processor rung up, sorry, we can't pick your milk up today, you have lost your RT, lots of words said, RT saying they didn't pick the photo up till next day, sorry, tough luck
4,000 litres down the drain, and it only was that lock, everything else 'passed'.

and people wonder why we dislike RT. Load of #ankers.

 

[ollie989898]

a local farmer, had a list of things to do, as usual, for RT.
all done, except for a lock on an internal door, he'd forgotten, send a photo by 5.00 today, to show you have done it, ok.
processor rung up, sorry, we can't pick your milk up today, you have lost your RT, lots of words said, RT saying they didn't pick the photo up till next day, sorry, tough luck
4,000 litres down the drain, and it only was that lock, everything else 'passed'.

and people wonder why we dislike RT. Load of #ankers.

I dislike RT as much as the next man- I don't think dairy farmers should even bother with it- the requirements of the dairies these days are more stringent, specific and reasonable (to a point) anyway. Also, at least the dairies are paying a premium for these things. RT is none of this.

 

[som farmer]

You would think the government should just stipulate that everyone vaccinates for BVD, Lepto and IBR and we do away with the diseases forever. There is talk of the dairies rejecting milk from red Johnes cows as well or something like that (maybe not accepting milk from herds with red cows in?) can't remember what the boss told me now.

seeing as a lot of cows don't test +ve till elderly, and the test isn't quite so reliable, that's a waste of time.

watching an American rancher on u'tube, talking about deer hunting, and casually talking about the 'wasting disease' some deer had, on his ranch.
BSE or TB, sort of spring to mind, or even johnes, no concern though.

 

[Woody j]

Never seen a poor vet