Veterinary Clinics & Field Services
Part of Animal Health and Veterinary
What Are Veterinary Clinics & Field Services?
Veterinary clinics and field services provide on-farm veterinary care, herd health programs, surgery, diagnostic services, and consultation for dairy operations. This includes mixed practice clinics, dairy-focused practices, and veterinarians who specialize in production medicine and herd health management.
Why Veterinary Relationships Matter
A good veterinarian is more than someone who treats sick cows—they're a strategic partner in maintaining herd health, preventing disease, optimizing reproduction, and making sound health-related business decisions. The veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is also legally required for prescription drug access.
Key Benefits
- Herd health programs: Systematic monitoring and prevention
- Clinical care: Treatment of sick and injured animals
- Reproductive services: Pregnancy diagnosis, breeding advice
- Regulatory compliance: Health certificates, disease reporting
- Prescription access: Legal access to veterinary drugs
- Consultation: Problem-solving and strategic advice
Types of Veterinary Services
Routine Herd Health Visits
Scheduled visits (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) for pregnancy checking, fresh cow exams, sick cow evaluation, and systematic herd monitoring.
Emergency Care
After-hours and urgent care for calvings, injuries, and acute illness. Understand your practice's emergency availability.
Consultation & Planning
Review of records, analysis of herd performance, protocol development, and strategic health planning.
Surgery
On-farm or clinic-based surgery including cesarean sections, displaced abomasum correction, and other procedures.
Choosing a Veterinary Practice
- Dairy experience: Do they understand dairy production systems?
- Availability: Can they meet your scheduling and emergency needs?
- Approach: Do they focus on prevention and production medicine?
- Communication: Are they good partners who listen and advise?
- Technology: Do they use modern diagnostics and records?
Maximizing Your Veterinary Relationship
- Regular visits: Consistent contact enables better monitoring
- Good records: Provide data for informed recommendations
- Follow protocols: Use the programs you develop together
- Communicate changes: Alert your vet to new problems or situations
- Value expertise: Pay for advice, not just procedures
Cost Considerations
Veterinary services typically cost $150-400 per farm visit plus per-animal charges for pregnancy checks ($3-5), treatments, and procedures. Regular preventive programs cost $5-15/cow/year but prevent far greater losses. View veterinary expense as an investment in herd health and productivity.