Veterinarians and why you don't use them

[gcreekrch]

So those of you who use your veterinarian for herd health, do you pay on a yearly per head basis, or pay a farm call + hourly rate, or...? What would you prefer? I asked a fellow I work for and he just shrugged, said cattlemen usually just accept whatever they're given as they don't have much say in the matter. If you could choose though, what would work better in your operation?

How about consultation charges? What rate would you consider a fair/reasonable fee? The CT folks suggested $25/10 minute phone call. How do the rest of you feel about that?

What topics do you think your veterinarian doesn't know enough about or you'd like your veterinarian to know more about? Some of the CT folks said nutrition was important. Anything else?

Here's the CT discussion on the same topic for those who are curious.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81759

If I'm doing $8000+ business per year with a vet and he expects a consultation fee for the dozen calls for advice in a year, I will find another vet. :wink:

We use our vet for pregging and semen testing, I am competant enough to do most operations and the .243 takes take of the most dire cases. Our vet is from nearly 700 miles away and will line up his regular customers for a flat fee with no mileage added. The local vets (closest is 200 miles) want $900 in milage before they start work. Our supplies from the vet we use are also 40 to 60% cheaper as he does a larger volume.

 

[Faster horses]

So those of you who use your veterinarian for herd health, do you pay on a yearly per head basis, or pay a farm call + hourly rate, or...? What would you prefer? I asked a fellow I work for and he just shrugged, said cattlemen usually just accept whatever they're given as they don't have much say in the matter. If you could choose though, what would work better in your operation?

How about consultation charges? What rate would you consider a fair/reasonable fee? The CT folks suggested $25/10 minute phone call. How do the rest of you feel about that?

What topics do you think your veterinarian doesn't know enough about or you'd like your veterinarian to know more about? Some of the CT folks said nutrition was important. Anything else?

Here's the CT discussion on the same topic for those who are curious.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81759

I'll agree that most vets don't know enough about nutrition. They depend on
vaccines. In order for vaccines to work the cattle need a good immune system
which is created through good nutrition.
If you have to doctor the same animal more than once, their immune system
was compromised.

I never heard of charging for a consultation call.

 

[Badlands]

Too many Veterinarians already think they are Nutritionists, Physiologists, Animal Breeders, Geneticists, and Economists. They are poorly trained to be anything other than an animal mechanic; which is what they are trained to do.

Remember that nearly all of their Nutrition and Genetics comes from undergrad training. In fact, the neighbor kid who did a production option at college, rather than a veterinary option for his undergrad probably has more nutrition training than your Vet.

Go to the correct specialist to get the appropriate solution.

Badlands

 

[RSL]

So those of you who use your veterinarian for herd health, do you pay on a yearly per head basis, or pay a farm call + hourly rate, or...? What would you prefer? I asked a fellow I work for and he just shrugged, said cattlemen usually just accept whatever they're given as they don't have much say in the matter. If you could choose though, what would work better in your operation?

How about consultation charges? What rate would you consider a fair/reasonable fee? The CT folks suggested $25/10 minute phone call. How do the rest of you feel about that?

What topics do you think your veterinarian doesn't know enough about or you'd like your veterinarian to know more about? Some of the CT folks said nutrition was important. Anything else?

Here's the CT discussion on the same topic for those who are curious.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81759

Vets aren't taught in depth nutrition in veterinary school. I have an undergrad with extensive nutrition training but I still consult with my nutritionist as I don't deal with that everyday and he knows more than I am even interested in. I tackle genetics myself as that is what I do. My vet knows more about health than I will ever be interested in and so I rely on him for that.

I would pay a consultation fee per cow if it came with vaccine's etc. included in the cost. If it was just a fee for asking a question, I think I would avoid asking questions and buy a copy of Merck's. I don't think we have ever had a farm call in the last 20 years. Unlike Gcreek, I use the .270 solution.