Memorandum submitted by the Royal Association
of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) (W6)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers,
a farmer-membership driven organisation, describes a number of
areas of concern with the future provision of Vets and Veterinary
Services in England and Wales in the context of animal health
and welfare. In particular:
— the poor economic state of dairy
farming is discouraging the use of veterinary services on a significant
percentage of farms;
— the rapid reduction in dairy farm
numbers is reflected by fewer large animal practices and availability
of "specialist" veterinarians;
— as veterinary contact with farms
declines the difficulties of accurate disease reporting and surveillance
increase;
— the effectiveness of the State Veterinary
Service is questioned and a review of the manner in which Government
discharges it's responsibility is urged.
These and other issues discussed in this response
are barriers to the improvement of animal health and welfare on
farms.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The RABDF welcomes the opportunity to
offer a written submission to the inquiry on Vets and Veterinary
Services undertaken by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee.
1.2 Membership of the RABDF is dominated
by dairy farmers but includes representatives from most sectors
of the supply trade including veterinary surgeons and researchers.
Members are located throughout the UK.
2. PREVIOUS EVIDENCE
2.1 The subject of this inquiry is of vital
importance to this Association due to the dependence of dairy
farmers on veterinary services to maintain and improve animal
health and welfare and consequently, dairy farm viability. As
a measure of the importance of the subject, RABDF has over the
last three years provided written responses to various Government
inquiries on animal health including the Animal Health Bill, FMD
and the proposed strategy for animal health and welfare. Of particular
relevance in this context is the provision of written and oral
evidence to the Marsh Inquiry (Independent Review of Dispensing
by Veterinary Surgeons) and more recently to the Competition Commission's
inquiry into the supply of veterinary medicines.
3. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
3.1 It is important to state at the outset
that this inquiry is undertaken against a background of low milk
price and an unprofitable dairy farming industry. The milk price
currently received by most producers is below the costs of production.
The unsatisfactory state of the industry was highlighted in the
recently published MDC funded KPMG study on prices in the dairy
chain. It showed that in recent years the milk price paid to UK
producers was between 8% and 13% below that paid in other EU countries.
This difficult economic position does have a direct effect on
the Committee's inquiry.
3.2 The dairy farming industry is in a testing
transitional period since de-regulation in 1994. After 60 years
of operating in a regulated market, dairy farmers have had and
continue to have to adapt to managing their businesses in a so-called
"free market". This transition, together with poor milk
prices, is resulting in considerable structural change. During
the period from the late 1940s to the turn of the century, the
annual decline in the numbers of milk producers has been 3-4%.
Two years ago the decline increased to over 6% mainly due to economic
problems (and not Foot and Mouth disease) and the current exit
rate is now even greater.
4. INCOME IMPACT
ON USE
OF VETERINARY
SERVICES
4.1 Current levels of farm income are having
a direct effect on the usage of veterinary services. Notwithstanding
the outcome of the various related inquiries, veterinary services
and animal medicines are costly and constitute an important element
in the cost of producing a litre of milk.
4.2 It is the view of this Association that
the majority of dairy farmers (perhaps 75% or more) call on veterinary
services for "firebrigade" work and little else. It
is only the very efficient group at the top end of the performance
scale, which takes a more strategic approach to animal health
management and makes greater use of veterinary services and veterinary
consultancy. At the same time these farmers are likely to search
for cheaper medicines. For the majority, however, there are increasing
risks of animals not being treated adequately or as early as necessary
with consequences for animal health and welfare.
4.3 In the Competition Commission's inquiry
into the cost of animal medicines the Association provided evidence
to show that the cost of medicines was greater in the UK than
in most competing dairying countries placing farmers here at a
competitive disadvantage. Drug sales by veterinary practices constitute
a substantial proportion of their income and profitability, but
the relatively high cost is a barrier to a more pro-active approach
by farmers to animal health management. It is hoped that the recently
published report on animal medicines by the Competition Commission
will address this issue, but the present problem as described
will continue for some time, perhaps years ahead.
5. EFFECT ON
LARGE ANIMAL
PRACTICES
5.1 This Association is very aware of the
economic difficulties facing large animal veterinary practices.
The low milk price paid to dairy farmers results in the need to
reduce production costs including veterinary services and medicines.
At the same time farmers need easy access to veterinarians to
deal with emergencies and maintain standards of animal health
and welfare. The present position is therefore something of a
conundrum. A declining number of dairy farmers, many minimising
veterinary inputs, mirrored by a reduction in the numbers of large
animal practices covering increasing distances to service their
more scattered farmer clients.
5.2 A further issue is the changing circumstances
and demand for veterinary services resulting in there being fewer
dairy cow specialist vets which are increasingly required by today's
dairy herds. Some geographical areas are adequately provided others
far less so.
6. SHORTAGE OF
LARGE ANIMAL
VETS
6.1 The RABDF concurs with the suggestion
in Press Notice 33 that there is a shortage of large animal vets.
Furthermore it is aware that due to relatively poor profitability
of large practices compared to those that deal with small/companion
animals, there are relatively few large animal vets in training
at the UK's vet schools. A downward spiral of available expertise
is a real possibility as a reducing pool of large animal vets
will mean fewer specialists, lower demand for specialist teachers
and if such expertise is not available, a reduction in farm demand.
6.2 An observation this Association makes
is that the average age of large animal vets is approaching the
retirement end of the career scale rather than at the newly qualified
end with consequences for the coming years.
7. EFFECT ON
ANIMAL HEALTH
AND WELFARE
7.1 The reduction in dairy farms, vet practices
and large animal vets means that vets can have less opportunity
to experience all types of animal health conditions and diseases.
Disease may not be immediately recognised and treated accordingly
or, if veterinary help is not sought, not treated at all and culling
eventually occurs. The position is having a negative impact on
animal health and welfare. There must also be serious concerns
over possible future outbreaks of, say, foot and mouth disease
(and other infectious diseases) where disease is not recognised
immediately due to the farm not having close contact with a specialist
vet for reasons of cost or access.
7.2 The RABDF is supportive of the concept
of developing partnerships between farmers and their veterinarians
such as through effective herd health plans and regular contact.
For dairy farmers in many areas this is proving difficult to adopt.
8. DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
8.1 We are concerned that disease surveillance
is less effective now that it has been in the past. Little survey
work is undertaken by Government and for reasons given in the
previous paragraphs, there is much under-reporting of disease.
For dairy farmers, "low milk yield" is a common cause
of culling dairy cows when the real reason may not have been identified.
Government strategies for animal health must be based on adequate
and accurate data and there must be real concerns in this context
when establishing priorities.
9. ARE GOVERNMENT
REQUIREMENTS REALISTIC?
9.1 Under the present circumstances (which
are likely to become more difficult in the future) the requirements
placed on dairy farmers by Government, including the Animal Health
and Welfare Strategy, will be very difficult to realise. In the
submission made to DEFRA on the subject, the Association agreed
that a strategic approach to animal health and welfare is urgently
needed. Strategies at both national and farm level are required.
Bearing in mind the poor economic status of most dairy farms,
we argued that some means of incentivisation should be considered
if maximum gain from a strategic approach was to be realised.
9.2 RABDF is supportive of farm assurance
schemes, which should include animal health and welfare elements,
and in the context of this inquiry, it can see an opportunity
for DEFRA to proactively support the concept and its implementation.
10. THE STATE
VETERINARY SERVICE
10.1 The reduction in the number of qualified
vets in the SVS which has taken place during the last decade has
rendered the Service almost invisible to the average farmer. Our
understanding is that the small field operation no longer offers
adequate career challenges and opportunities for veterinarians
compared to the historic position.
10.2 Unless Government is prepared to fund
a more effective field service, this Association urges a review
of the needs of Government, the consumer and the livestock farmer
with a view to a completely different approach. For example:
— In terms of zoonosis, would the SVS
vets be more effective if attached to the Food Standards Agency,
local authority or other public health body?
— Would the current funding for the
SVS be better employed by re-directing to the private veterinary
sector?
Veterinary surgeons in private practice are
already undertaking TB tests on their clients farms and for reporting
reactor cows to the relevant authority. Contracting out all SVS
field responsibility to practices would strengthen them, give
increased farm contact and allow greater specialisation by individuals.
Increased farm contact by experienced vets would improve disease
surveillance and increase disease reporting.
10.3 The concept would encourage the increased
presence of experienced, large animal vets on farms, building
partnerships with farmers and have a positive impact on improving
animal health and welfare. It would also help secure the long
term viability of large animal practices and the services they
supply to farmer clients.
11. NEXT STEPS
The RABDF would be pleased to assist further
with this inquiry including the provision of oral evidence if
required.
25 April 2003
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