| 43 Marlborough Farm Vets Reduce antibiotic usage by 22% REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Rosa Watson Focused firmly on the farming sector Spring has started well for the region’s agricultural sector, with plenty of rain and strong prices across dairy and sheep and beef. “It’s quite refreshing for farmers to actually have a specific place to go for their animal health needs that is completely tailored to them.” Marlborough Farm Vets is playing a pivotal role in ensuring the region’s agricultural sector is performing at its best. The Renwick-based practice, which opened in October last year, is farm-specific, providing products and services to anyone with beef, dairy, sheep, deer, horses, and lifestyle blocks. Its services also extend to pigs, alpacas and many other animals. The practice provides practical, hands-on support for farmers across Marlborough, delivering veterinary expertise and advice that works in the paddock. The range of services includes animal health planning and animal health products, designed to improve animal health, lift productivity, and make day-to-day farm management easier. Business director, Heath Dickson, says with agriculture a vital sector of the region’s economy, the practice has an important part to play in improving its performance. His business partner, Trish Lipyeat, has been a large animal vet for 34 years, and half of that has been in the Marlborough region. “So, she’s probably one of the longest-standing farm vets in Marlborough,” Heath says. Heath himself has seven years’ experience in product stewardship and farm animal health plans. He says they noticed many clinics were mixed practice that leaned towards the small animal side. “We just sort of felt that there was an opportunity (that) if we did large animal only, then when a farmer calls us up, they know that they’re going to get the advice, the products – everything, from the first person that answers the phone. “It’s quite refreshing , for farmers to actually have a specific place to go for their animal health needs that is completely tailored to them.” Spring has started well for the region’s agricultural sector, with plenty of rain and strong prices across dairy and sheep and beef. “So it’s great that the agricultural space is doing well for farmers. It’s great for the region and also great for the individuals,” Heath says.. “When the industry’s doing it tough, it’s obvious. Farmers will put a sort of a handbrake on spending – for good reason, because there’s a lot of unknowns when there’s droughts, and prices aren’t so good and that sort of thing. “But when things are going well, it’s a fantastic opportunity to try and drive the bottom line, drive profitability, and that’s where we come in. We can help also prevent losses. “But one of the things that I really enjoy is how can we actually improve productivity, improve profitability, and actually make these businesses even more viable and sustainable.” One way to do this is focusing on improving animal health, which starts with a discussion with the farmer, Heath says. “It’s really important to know the farm, what the farmers’ objectives are their stock, what sort of problems they’re dealing with. So, it usually starts with a lot of questions. Then we tailor advice and products and things to that. “So, for example, a fine wool merino farmer in the high country is going to have a lot of different problems and opportunities compared to what a strong wool farmer in the Sounds might be dealing with.” This could be foot rot and lice versus facial eczema and heavy worm burdens, he says. “It really depends on the property and the farmer. So, we focus on that, ask a lot of questions, see what they’ve been doing, see where there’s opportunities that we can improve, and then we go from there.” The goal is to reduce reliance on products such as antibiotics and drenches. “We want less inputs, because those farms will become more sustainable over time in terms of profitability and productivity. It’s going to be a stronger farm going forward and can be for generations ahead.” In less than a year the business has grown from a team of two to four. Supporting Trish and Heath are a farm services manager and a vet technician, who started in early September. It has also vastly increased its product offering, Heath says. While they are not actively seeking another vet at present, he says they are looking to employ another vet in the next year. Heath Dickson and Trish Lipyeat - hugely experienced with large animal vet care.
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