| 75 nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Dairy Vets Dairy Vets’ team brings a wealth of practical experience, with many members coming from farming backgrounds. Highly dedicated, dairy-only practice Richard Loader Dairy farmers across Canterbury are increasingly recognising the value of working with a dedicated, dairy-only veterinary practice to improve efficiency, animal health and on-farm profitability. Established by Nathan Back and Anna Tarver in 2013, Dairy Vets has grown from a husband-andwife operation working out of a home garage into a team of eight veterinarians supported by skilled technicians, servicing farms all across the Canterbury region. “At the core of what we do is understanding each individual farming business and aligning our service with that,” says Nathan. “Having a dedicated dairyonly focus means we can identify the challenges and opportunities that are specific to dairy farming.” Because Dairy Vets concentrates exclusively on dairy herds this has allowed it to refine systems and expertise that directly benefit farmers. Each client is supported by a key team consisting of a lead veterinarian, a secondary vet and a technician, ensuring continuity and a strong working relationship. “Consistency is critical,” explains Nathan. “Farmers have a primary vet who understands their goals and system, but they’re also backed up by another vet and our technicians. That gives resilience and depth to the service while keeping communication clear and aligned.” The practices Farm Health Care Plan system focuses on a preventative approach where possible. “Our plans are tailored to meet each farmer’s goals and objectives with their milk supplier, helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations,” explains Nathan. “We place a strong emphasis on data-driven decision making. Through the use of integrated software and on-farm data collection we can benchmark herd performance across a range of indicators including reproduction, body condition and milk quality. This allows us to identify where improvements can be made and track progress over time. We’re not just treating sick animals, we’re analysing performance and helping farmers make informed decisions.” This approach is particularly relevant at this time of year as many Canterbury farmers complete pregnancy scanning and begin planning for winter. Nathan says that decisions around culling, drying off and managing body condition are critical to ensuring cows meet targets ahead of calving. “Having a vet team that understands those seasonal pressures and can interpret the data alongside them makes a real difference.” Dairy Vets’ team brings a wealth of practical experience, with many members coming from farming backgrounds. Nathan himself grew up in Australia and worked on dairy farms before becoming a veterinarian. Anna was raised in a UK dairy farming family. The pair met at university before moving to New Zealand in 2010, drawn by the country’s expanding dairy sector. “We were attracted to the scale and progression of the industry here, particularly in the South Island,” says Nathan. “Farmers are innovative and focused on performance, which aligns well with our approach.” After three years working within a corporate structure, the pair established their own practice to deliver a more tailored and relationship-driven service. Today they have been joined by vets Phil Stoakes and James Postelthwaite who are also partners in the independently owned business. Nathan says that Dairy Vets believes that a proactive, planned approach to herd health not only improves animal wellbeing but also delivers measurable financial gains. “When you combine good planning, strong relationships and detailed analysis, you see significant improvements in both physical and financial performance. That’s the real benefit of working with a dedicated dairy veterinary practice. Scan for more information NEW Bovilis Cryptium® — the world’s first and only vaccine designed to help reduce the impact of Cryptosporidium parvum (crypto) in newborn calves. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR VET. www.boviliscryptium.co.nz AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION. ACVM No: A012159. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Ph: 0800 800 543. âââ ØÞÏ#ÌÙÔØÌ×#ÓÐÌ×ßÓ ÎÚ Ùå [ _]_b ¾ÐÝÎÖ ´Ú ºÙÎ ÃÌÓâÌä ¿» ÆIJ ÌÙÏ ÔßÞ Ìø×ÔÌßÐÞ ²×× ÝÔÒÓßÞ ÝÐÞÐÝáÐÏ ¿Ë#³ÀÇ#_b^^]]]]_
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=