Vet threat.

[Castle Farm]

Farmers will get free veterinarian visits as part of a Brexit dividend, the Environment Secretary will announce this week.

Annual check-ups for two to three hours will be paid for by the Government and will cover cattle, sheep and pigs.

George Eustice told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Too often farmers only call a vet when there is a crisis, but with an annual vet visit to develop better animal health plans, they will see both animal welfare and their farm profitability improve.’

Farmers will be given cash payments to cover the visits for their herds at the following rates: £684 for pigs, £436 for sheep, £522 for beef cattle and £372 for dairy cattle per vet visit. They will then negotiate rates with the vet of their choice.

 

[Bald Rick]

Surely dairy farmers have the vet out more than once a year?

Ours is here on routine PDing every fortnight as a minimum

 

[Kidds]

So how come there's nowt for poultry, llamas and probably several other things not covered?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

My Vet will be encouraging all his clients to keep pigs.
Then he really will be a millionaire!!

The trouble is that there are very, very few Vets that know much about sheep and the student will be sent around to talk cobblers and then send the bill!!

 

[Farfrae]

Wonder where they will find these extra vets from? All the ones I speak to doing farm animals are getting out of the job as fast as they can.

State sanctioned vets on farms? You'll be getting a farm veterinary rating next just like hygiene inspections on the chippy door.

 

[Bald Rick]

Wonder where they will find these extra vets from? All the ones I speak to doing farm animals are getting out as fast as they can.

Our practice have just put a new surgery on to the Island specifically to cope with large animals. Have no problem attracting new vets to them

 

[Courier]

I think I’ll get a pig, a sheep, a steer and a cow ….

 

[Courier]

And will the same requirements for an annual assessment be placed on farmers worldwide who are to supply the UK with their surplus cheap meats ?

 

[betweenthelines]

Rather they spent the money a licencing scheme for keeping animals.

Spot checks by a Govt Vet might have stopped the stuff that was on the BBC recently

 

[Will Blackburn]

Wonder where they will find these extra vets from? All the ones I speak to doing farm animals are getting out of the job as fast as they can.

State sanctioned vets on farms? You'll be getting a farm veterinary rating next just like hygiene inspections on the chippy door.

You’re out of touch.

 

[Pigken]

Surely if vet med visit is done annually so medicines can be bought, then we all have veterinary at least once a year any way.

 

[ollie989898]

Surely if vet med visit is done annually so medicines can be bought, then we all have veterinary at least once a year any way.

Once yearly visit is all that is needed for the sheep job.

Pigs and poultry farmers, serious ones at least, have far more interest in animal health than would be the norm in agriculture in general.

 

[neilo]

Once yearly visit is all that is needed for the sheep job.

Pigs and poultry farmers, serious ones at least, have far more interest in animal health than would be the norm in agriculture in general.

A once yearly visit is all that's required for pig and poultry farmers too, and only then if they wish to buy prescription medications.

You do realise there might be some sheep farmers that take a bit of 'interest in animal health' too, before you set to work with that broad brush you're holding?

 

[Courier]

Which pot of money is this going to come from ?

 

[ollie989898]

A once yearly visit is all that's required for pig and poultry farmers too, and only then if they wish to buy prescription medications.

You do realise there might be some sheep farmers that take a bit of 'interest in animal health' too, before you set to work with that broad brush you're holding?

You cannot deny that the pig and poultry sectors are pretty fastidious about hygiene and the like.

Sheep? I have no doubt there are some very consciences sheep farmers about, but if my experience is any guide, that would be the exception and not the rule. Sheep must be the most maligned farmed species in the UK.

 

[milkloss]

If it’s using money that would otherwise be spent on some pointless bolloks then I think it’s a good idea. At least the money wouldn’t be lost to an unrelated industry and I feel large animal vets need all the support and encouragement they can get.

 

[teslacoils]

Is this optional? Will the visit be recorded against your holding number / cph and those who didn't take the visit "randomly" be more likely to get an unannounced visit?

 

[neilo]

Is this optional? Will the visit be recorded against your holding number / cph and those who didn't take the visit "randomly" be more likely to get an unannounced visit?

It's part of SFI. You can sign up to claim it (or not) and DEFRA will pay you the specified amount as long as you have a vet visit. The idea is probably to encourage more farmers to have vet advice & input.

I'm struggling to see why the OP appears to think it's in any way a 'threat'.

 

[sidjon]

Surely dairy farmers have the vet out more than once a year?

Ours is here on routine PDing every fortnight as a minimum

Ours are every 60days for a golly good time of tb testing, but other than that do as much as I possibly can.

 

[Sharpy]

Once yearly visit is all that is needed for the sheep job.

Pigs and poultry farmers, seriously intensive ones at least, have far more problems in animal health than would be the norm in agriculture in general.

Edited that