The Farm Animal practice has been serving the local farming
community for nearly 100 years, and during that time practice has changed a great deal. Kingdon
Stevens who founded the practice would find it difficult to comprehend how you
have come to read this article on the internet and how his single man practice
would have grown to 22 vets all specialising in
different disciplines. Our oldest farm client has been using the practice for 5
generations.
Farm Practice Today
Modern farm practice is all about prevention rather than cure.
Herd health programmes are aimed at maintaining a healthy herd or flock rather than trying to treat
problems as they occur. Individual animals obviously are still treated to help them recover to full
production as well as safeguarding their welfare at all times. We still go out at 3.00am to calve cows and
lamb ewes whatever the weather, and we pride ourselves in our personal service and rapid response
that our clients have become used to.
As we are in a large Dairy area a lot of our work involves
healthy and wholesome milk production. We are involved at all levels and scales of production and have
set up herd health plans on most of our farms which includes a regular (monthly, fortnightly, weekly)
routine visit. We are responsible for the care of around 12,000 dairy cows in a
15 mile radius of our base in Frome. To aid us in this service we provide a computerised bureau service for our clients (Interherd)
which is used to monitor the herd. This program also prompts action for individual cows.
We have a considerable number of organic clients which
has enabled us to develop additional services to meet their requirements.
We have a large practice laboratory for 'in-house' analysis of
samples as well as close links with the Veterinary Investigation Service at Langford. The surgery at
Frome has outbuildings that are used for 'small' large animals that can be hospitalised for surgical and
medical reasons.
Part of the role of modern veterinary practices is to provide
a protected environment for young veterinary students to learn the practical aspects of the
profession. The practice has been involved in this for many years and has received recognition as an excellent
extra mural study centre. We now have students with us virtually all year round (including those from
overseas) and we are grateful (as are the students) for all of the patience shown by our clients to enable
us to do this.
At the present time it is impossible to
mention the farming community without a great deal of concern for the future. We
have lost many clients in recent years that have chosen to retire early or cease
milk production and the industry as a whole is in a state of depression. The
Foot and Mouth crisis only added to the problem. We can only hope that this is a short term problem and that buoyancy will once again return. Garston
Veterinary Group is totally committed to the farming community - it is where we came from - and will
provide an undiminished service to all of our farm clients as long as you are still there.
For specific farm enquiries telephone 01373 451115 or
fax 01373 451005
or email
