Livestock Veterinarians
Maybe you are considering a career in animal care, or perhaps you own livestock and need a livestock veterinarian. Either way, you need to know what one is before you can be one and before you can call on one. Today we will talk about some of the job requirements that a mobile livestock vet needs to complete their job on a regular basis.
What Is A Livestock Veterinarian?
A livestock veterinarian is a professional who specializes in caring for livestock or large animals. This includes cattle, horses, pigs, goats, llama, and similar large animals that live on a farm. A livestock veterinarian’s role is to diagnose, perform medical tests, provide treatments, and conduct operations. Large animals require specialized healthcare as opposed to a regular veterinarian who primarily handles smaller animals. Livestock vets don’t usually treat domestic animals like dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, hamsters, sugar gliders, or other small house-friendly critters.
They also perform duties such as artificial insemination, taking x-rays, and providing vaccinations, and most of this is done onsite. Livestock vets are usually mobile, as it can be challenging to transport large farm animals to the clinic. They are on duty for emergencies, and also they monitor the health of animals from time to time.
What Animals Do They Treat?
They often treat the animals at the animal’s home instead of clinics or hospitals. The nature of the work involves a lot of travel from one farm to another on a daily basis. They also provide guidance and medical advice to the caregivers for proper care of the livestock animals. Livestock vets become highly relied upon for the care of farm animals, especially when they are responsible for creating profitable products. Items like meat, eggs, milk, wool, and other resources derived from the animal can become something the farmer depends on as a revenue source. If these animals become sick and cannot produce the products needed to generate revenue, it can cost the farmer a substantial amount of money.
Large Animal Research
Apart from the practice of caring for the animals, livestock veterinarians also conduct research. The research is related to understanding more about diseases, possible treatment options, and prevention measures. This forms an integral part of the medical literature as well as practice. With more access to this information than ever before, it’s becoming easier to learn about livestock vets and how to become one. This research is often published online, and is available for students and farm owners to access. The information helps everyone to learn more about the animals, how to care for them, and ways to identify issues the animals may be experiencing.
Livestock veterinarians are medical professionals who play an integral role in maintaining the health of livestock animals. This is important for the care of large animals and ensures that caregivers are aware of proper ways to care for their cattle or horses. Future farm owners and future professionals will benefit from learning more about what a livestock vet does and how the world benefits from their services.