Memorandum submitted by Mr Martin Green
BVSc, DCHP, MRCVS (W16)
I have been a veterinary surgeon in farm animal
practice for 16 years and am currently a partner at Orchard Veterinary
Group, Somerset. I am one of approximately eight RCVS Diploma
holders in Cattle health and Production and am an RCVS "Specialist
in Cattle Health and Production".
I would like to comment on the proposed investigation
by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
into vets and veterinary services. I feel that the issues to be
discussed are of fundamental importance to our industry and to
the health and welfare of farm animals. I am a dairy practitioner
(and part-time research scientist) and my comments are mostly
applicable to the dairy sector. These are my main concerns:
1. There is no doubt at all, as farm incomes
have dropped over the last five years, that there has been a significant
reduction in general veterinary services on farm. This manifests
as fewer calls to "sick" animals, and currently, some
farms have very little veterinary advice indeed. Farmers are undertaking
more treatments/interventions themselves, but with a massive variation
in proficiency.
2. It is certainly clear that the attention
given to herd and individual cow health is related to farm income;
and it is definitely at its worst since I entered farm practice
over 15 years ago. Many farmers say that they would like to be
able to spend money to improve cow welfare (eg invest in new housing
or tracks), but there is simply insufficient value in their produce.
Current research into farm incomes reveals this to be a severe
problem.
3. As somebody who has been involved in
promoting herd health and preventive medicine for a number of
years (including providing education for farmers and farm vets
on this subject) I see a polarisation within the dairy sector.
Nationally, there are a minority of well-managed, well-educated
farmers who have a close liaison with their vets and formulate
excellent herd health schemes. There are other farms that do not
work in this way, have a bare minimum health input and the most
basic health plan possible to satisfy the National Dairy Farm
Assurance Scheme (NDFAS). Unfortunately, the top farms do not
have sufficient market incentives for their better health and
welfare status, although improved health does have some financial
benefits in itself.
4. Agriculture has a very poor image and
it is not at all enticing for younger members of the profession
to enter farm practice. Much of the "fun" work for new
graduates, such as examining sick cows, and cattle surgery, is
vastly reduced, because economically individuals are generally
unimportant to farmers. Therefore we have seen;
— a reduction in farm veterinary practitioners.
— a severe problem in recruiting and
maintaining farm vets in practice (and research).
— a reduction in the level of farm
animal veterinary expertise.
Furthermore, these trends will be made worse
if the proposals for new regulations to reduce veterinary dispensing
of medicines, are carried out because many farm practices will
simply become uneconomic.
If such trends continue, it is likely to have
grave implications for the State Veterinary Service (SVS). Recent
disease outbreaks have indicated that a new national disease surveillance
strategy is absolutely essential. For this to be achieved, SVS
requires a large body of experienced farm animal veterinary surgeons
and it is in the national interest to ensure such people and their
skills are available when the need arises.
5. Cow welfare has not improved much in
my 15 years in practice and for the above reasons, despite initiatives
such as the (toothless) National Dairy Farm Assurance Scheme,
it is currently getting worse. However, cumbersome legislation
will not be the answer. This could result in greater costs being
loaded onto farmers, with no greater financial returns. The result
of this would be UK agriculture being even less viable, unable
to compete with cheap imported produce and widespread exits from
the industry. Improving welfare, disease surveillance, veterinary
participation (hence promoting farm vet numbers) and therefore
public image cannot be done using the "stick" approach.
Many requirements placed on our farmers, under current levels
of farm income, are completely unrealistic. I believe that changes
have to involve all levels of the agricultural industry, from
the producer to the consumer, if we are to see sustainable agriculture,
animal welfare-friendly systems and sufficient farm animal vets
to provide the services to the agricultural sector.
22 April 2003
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