RURAL VETERINARIANS IN PRACTICE---BRACING THEMSELVES AGAINST THE CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY

[SADIE]

Kathy--thankyou for the positive and understanding words on your thread.

History of H OF A obtaining their veterinary supply to go to government was they wanted those in rural practice after 20-25 yrs--Tired, sore shoulders, knee or whatever to come and work for them. The other group like myself were fortunate to invest and get back to their roots and do what you people on agriville are doing--farm or ranch.

Those that went to CFIA--regular hours, weekends off, a pension plan--but in return they could talk and deal with the rural public--explain issues and policy to them. They also carried some degree of a degree in CS--COMMON SENSE. That group of H Of A veterinarians are at the end--now working for CFIA. That group are retiring because (Close friends of mine comment??--we cannot impose the fines and penalties on fellow cattlemen what CFIA (CENTRAL) wants us to do".

Today CFIA--you don't need to retire at 65--some fellows just hired on at 72 (those that couldn't really make the practice economics work).

To survive in CFIA--you cannot offer an opinion and rock the boat to those above you.

To be promoted you have to become "Vegetable like" and don't have practical opinions.

Been to stress seminars with CFIA veterinarians. Many score off the map. They are not happy with their jobs, they stay because they do not fit any other area. There are no mid life rural veterinarian background vets applying. non-farm, urban and foreign (with no farm background) and many with language barriers are the ones that apply.

In practive from 76-95 that talk was always to some day go work for the government so you spoke nicely of H OF A (CFIA)--that day is gone.

[ALLFARMER]

Thanks Sadie for all your imput. It is great that you comment here. I don't know how she could pre check for me...her facility holds about 15 head tops and she won't come to the farm so.....? Also I am 80% certain she own's everything....She lives alone onsite in a late 70's very early 80's house trailer. The 35x35 building is from the 60's or earlier. She does charge the farmer less for fee's because of the county money she receives. It would be interesting too know how much retirement cash she has tucked away 0 debt their. The gov needs to consider letting farmers do vet work for other farmers. One guy I know is busy pushing in prolapses and removing big calves...a very physical job....something not practical for a 50's smaller woman to do. Thanks again and Happy New Year!!!

[grassfarmer]

The best vet we ever had was a girl weighing about 120lbs if she was lucky. Could pull calves and put in prolapses a lot better than many of the bigger guys in the practice. Skill overrides brawn sometimes!

[SADIE]

Allfarmer--The government considering farmers doing their own work. It is not the government per say it is the provicial veterinary assocaition act.

Alot of work is done by farmers--always has and always will the fact is the farmer doing the work cannot charge for it because then he is practicing vet medicine without a license. The barder system is still used.

The other way to develope the veterinary client relationship with the veterinarian---does she do any examination of large animals in a clinic?

Try being candid with her and stop is and ask her "What can I do to develope the veterinary clinette relationship. What type of work would you like to see from me so that on occasion if I need a bottle or two ---or short notice some "good drugs"--eg nuflor micotil that you might feel confortable in selling it to me over the counter.

Each vet is different and the recent ones are really "scared". Basically their client records that they keep on file in your name have to show they either have been on your premise or have examined animals in clinic usually within each calender year. Remeber if you haul in an animal live or dead for necropsy make sure it is bearing an approved RFID eartag??? section 176 (minor) When done make sure you contact the administrator (data base) and deregister that tag. Section 186 (1)or 186 (3) both classified as minor offences like 176.

[15444]

Allfarmer,

What we really need is a change in the vet act that would allow colleges to train students in a core area of vet work. If you just wanted to do cow work, you did your two years of university, and did a year (or two) in vet college, focusing just on cows. Herd health, anatomy, surgery, etc. You wouldn't be licensed for any other large animal or small animal procedures, and might actually be more experienced with your own species at task than most other general large animal vets.

That's what the vet colleges should be doing.

That was my hope when I was younger, and in my years at university, a lot of rural students trying for vet college, that I spoke to, thought it was a great idea. Some just wanted to work on horses, or pigs. But you would be surprised at the number that just wanted to work on cows.

[per]

15444, that is the best idea I have heard this year. Not only that but I can see where, given the current dismal bovine preference enrolment, the powers that be might also someday come to realise it is a good idea. Kind of like a Bovine Nurse Practitioner.

[grassfarmer]

Does that not happen already? I know of one "large animal only" not too far from me and the vet I use set up initially as large animal only before accepting small animals now too. Or are these just differences in licensing rather than differences in actual teaching they receive?

[SADIE]

Happy New Years ----This is in my corner so will comment.

GF--you are right. One goes to vet school even now--on trying to get acceptance into a veterinary college you can show great interest in large animal. To graduate you have to study all species and upon graduation--go mixed and you are right--once you realize the economics, lifestyle, your own body health issues--jump ship and become the best small animal person you can be.

BSE years did a real number in weeding our large animal practice and interest.


Veterinary Nurse programs is the animal health tech programs---The two year couses at Olds, Fairview, Vermillion,
Saskatoon and others---teach all species but upon graduation those students ---now young ladies go to where they can get the best $$$$--small animal clinics.

Geographic locations---outlaying areas set up in the 60s,70s.80s---some have been turned into welding shops (oil patch areas).

Who, upon graduation with student loans wants to invest huge $$$$$into buildings in outlaying areas--build up exuity when the chance of restell to another vet is highly unlikely.

Go small animal you can go into centres and set up in strip malls on leases.

The red tape coming down hard now on large animal practice---from CFIA is going to make the exodus across to small animals that much quicker.

The 5th Canadian Veterinary College now set up in Calgary was a Knee Jerk reaction to BSE hitting Canada. The Alberta Klein government with Shirley McCLELLAN (min of AG), Dr. Steve West (Dr. Dealth) Cabinet group---era started that veterinary college to put out the more BOVINE LARGE ANIMAL PRACTITIONEERS STYLE. The first Class should be graduating shortly. Watch them disperse---after a couple of years in practice.---Small animal bound.

The average time a vet stays in practice--less than 7 years now (large or mixed). Cost to set up, Life style, Economics and body injury and now CFIA regulations are the factors.

GF--the lady vets arrived in force in the 1980s. Some ranchers chuckled about the smaller less strong gals going into the rural clinics. THey got a huge surprise. Some ladies are a reason the rural practices are surviving
1)they marry into the community and stay

2)lady vets--made many ranches buy better handling faciltiies --squeezes tubs and alleys---It is OK the guys get hurt--"He was charging too much anyway"

Lots better help at ranches when the lady vets are coming out.

3)The lady vets (brother & wife) husband and wife team now with industry in Colorado.---have done a huge successful job of maintaining veterinary practice rurally to this day.

[SADIE]

Grassfarmer---Cold weather keeps me close to the computer (Update on Dr. Earl Vanassan case.

The media--caught what the CFIA wanted the public to hear.

Go to www.canadian agriculture review tribunal.ca---2010 decisions. Just posted in last couple of days.

Klopernicki vs CFIA
Klopernicki vs CFIA
Klopernicki vs CFIA
Klopernicki vs CFIA-----this was involved in this case.

Alot more detal. Dr. Vanassan recent grad working in a practice with multiple clinics and veterinarians. Top calibre clinic.

This case will be exposed to teach all other veterinarians in practice. Like was said on other threads.

Practicing veterinarians will do two avenues regarding CFIA work export work. Some will totally stop doing any and the vet associations will now consider this work very risky and revisit the fee schedule. BINGO

OLD RULE TO CFIA AND THOSE PRODUCERS ON AGRIVILLE.

DO NOT PISS OFF YOUR LOCAL PRACTICING VETERINARIANS---THEY MIGHT SAVE YOUR ASS SOME DAY. or they will just leave.

PRACTICING VETERINARIANS CAN GET ANAL ABOUT THIS ALSO. OK EXPORT. UNLOAD FAT CATTLE, CHECK RFID EATTAGS, TPR (TEMP PULSE RESPIR), DIGITAL PICTURES, DENTAL CHECKS---TOTALLY SLOW DOWN WORK AND INSTEAD OF ie $5.00/Animal to cross line---$50.00--$75.00 per animal to cross line.

Practicing veterinarians do not, I repeat do not have to do any work asked by them---They can turn it back to CFIA and tell them "you do your own dam paperwork" CFIA are lazy lazy lazy buggers anyway. Many could not make it in practice.