A whole farm approach to planned animal health and production for sheep clients in Australia

Abstract: This paper reviews some of the key aspects of an animal health and production service in New Zealand and Australia after 35 years of personal experience. The objective of that veterinary advisory work is to increase production and profitability of sheep farms. Properties serviced grazed between 3000 and 28,000 breeding ewes. A certain amount of knowledge and understanding of sheep farming systems is necessary before a veterinarian can offer such programmes. Much of that knowledge can be learned. Programmes can grow from small beginnings, such as good animal health advice, and then expand into other areas of sheep management. The provider should be comfortable giving advice on agronomy, nutrition, genetics and economics. This information can be sourced or be provided by another professional. The veterinarian is a source of practical information. When change is contemplated, the options are presented and the most viable options should be considered. It is essential to listen to the client, so that the advice recommended is most likely to be adopted. After each visit a report should be written for the client, so that all recommendations are clearly explained and can be referred to when necessary. The type of clientele serviced varies, but all farmers want to increase production and efficiency in their operation. Some want major structural change, while others may only want to be reassured that the contemplated change will improve their performance. There is an increasing opportunity to work for absentee owners and corporations that have profitability as their goal. Most clients could be serviced intensively for 3–5 years and then are visited for an annual review. The areas in which the greatest gains are made are in increasing lambing percentage and in growing better young sheep. Minimizing wastage can be significant on some properties. The results achieved vary with the ability of the sheep producer to introduce changes. However, on many properties an initial small change is all that is required to increase income to allow further development to occur. Most of the gains made in production do not incur increased costs. On larger properties, income can be increased by up to AUD 250,000 annually. The rewards from being involved in this work are huge. Sometimes one has to wait to see the change, but that waiting is worthwhile. It is not only the production and income increase, but the change in confidence of the producer that is most rewarding. The change in family well-being is another reward, which is difficult to measure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]