90 | Wide range of veterinary services Russell Fredric RURAL SERVICES » Murrays Vet Clinic The increasing role of veterinarians as part of farmers’ team of professional advisers along with greater awareness of animal welfare are among trends observed by Murrays Veterinary Clinic senior veterinarian Donald Murray. The large Mosgiel-based practice is run by Donald and his wife Margie who is its practice manager. The clinic employs 27 staff who cover a comprehensive range of veterinary services for production, equine and domestic animals. Veterinarians are a central component of running a quality farm operation, Donald says. “The evolution of vets on the farm and the working relationship, everyone is going to bene t from that and we see that all the time. Vets have a wealth of knowledge and they can help, sometimes in simple ways for things you might be doing on your farm or you’re not quite getting.” Along with their clinical expertise, vets who are dealing with production animals on multiple farms have the advantage of a broad perspective, he says. “Most vets will have an understanding of the farms in an area because they are visiting them on a regular basis. They can often share knowledge con dentially about what is working really well on a property that might apply to their property and improve production and help with better outcomes for everybody.” This helicopter view also enables veterinarians to observe patterns and trends that may emerge in relation to animal welfare or in farm systems while also being able to disseminate new developments in veterinary science. Donald has observed a shift in the awareness of caring for animals, whether rural or domestic. He cites the in uence of women being more active in the rural sphere, including in farm management roles, as a key factor. It is even common for Murrays Veterinarian Clinic to do “things we never did twenty years ago” such as pet ewes being lambed on-site or consultations for chickens, especially as a result of the increase in lifestyle blocks. Farmers also are prepared to invest more in the welfare of animals such as their dogs which can be expensive to buy or take considerable time and effort to train. “There’s a realisation of how valuable they are. The working dog is an integral part of the farm and people are taking more time to look after them.” Murrays Veterinarian Clinic’s vets are actively recommending that farmers to put covers on their dogs during winter. “It’s been a real focus for us, we are trying to encourage our farmers to cover all their working dogs with jackets and feed them well. It can make a huge difference to their performance, their longevity and their overall welfare just by putting on a cover.” A diet of quality dog nuts is not only good for their well-being, but increases their stamina while other factors such as kennels being in a sunny location can also make a big difference. Another area of women’s in uence is in calf rearing and their maternal instinct and commitment to this role is an important part of a dairy farm. Their care of the calves is not only a cost saving, but raising calves well results in heifers and cows that get a good start to their lives and are better producers in the long term. The input of a vet in relation to calves’ nutrition, shelter and overall progress is also important, while keeping an eye on potential issues for cows such as retained membrane, mastitis and metabolic related problems will also pay dividends. “Keeping a close watch on how the animals are progressing and catching problems quickly, not waiting a long time before calling a vet to intervene will be a big plus.” Another trend is the signi cant growth in the uptake of insurance for both pets and working dogs due to increasing costs and more advanced options being available in medical imaging, veterinary medicine and more complex surgical procedures. Murrays Veterinarian Clinic covers Dunedin and greater Taieri, including Mosgiel and Outram through to Middlemarch and Hindon, was rst established by Donald’s father Jim in 1963. Its modern purpose-built clinic was opened in 2011 and was was designed with both animals and humans in mind. It has separate cat and dog wards with heated cages on ground level and two operating areas designed for speci c procedures such as dental or sterile procedures and a private family room. Vets who are dealing with production animals on multiple farms have the advantage of a broad perspective. Available at Murrays Veterinary Clinic.
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