PROBE
surgical insurance program, but to date all attempts have ended in failure. I feel that veterinary medicine will follow a trend in the future toward central hospital facilities in which specialists can exclusively engage in their own private specialty practice. This type of practice offers interaction with other specialty disciplines as well as the opportunity for limited teaching programs. These institutions are beginning to make inroads throughout the country today and though their suc-
'77 cess cannot yet be clearly determined, the trend seems to be in this direction. Some of these facilities have failed and some have changed in concept from their original plan, but more attempts at this type of function are being made. Though economics are still a major factor in their success, I personally feel that this will be the trend for the future and that this concept is in the best interests of veterinary medicine and good veterinary service.
THE FUTURE FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE J. C. Rennie* DURING
THE PAST TEN YEARS many
significant
changes have taken place within the animal industry. The number of individual farm units keeping livestock and poultry have dropped rather significantly; the average size of those remaining and the productivity level per animal, have increased. For example, in Ontario today, we note a reduction of 16,190 dairy farmers, 18,000 pork producers and 3,500 poultry producers in the last decade. In spite of this, the total production of most of our animal products has remained fairly constant and, in fact, in some cases increased. These trends will not hold true across all regions of Canada but the general picture for the country as a whole falls into this type of pattern. Will they continue at the same slope for several years and then level off? Will the rates of decrease in number of animal units and the increase in size and productivity begin to slow and possibly reach a fairly constant level? One cannot be absolutely certain of what will definitely happen but we believe the likely occurrence is reasonably clear. We anticipate a continuation of the decline in the number of farm units with livestock and poultry, but in certain cases this decline will be rather modest. The average size of operation will continue to grow but not into extremely large operations. For example, we would expect to see more "100 cow dairy herds" but we fail to see much growth in the
*Executive Director, Education, Research and Special Services, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. 203
number with 200 plus milking head. The productivity level per animal unit will continue to increase, although in certain areas, like egg production with an average of 250 eggs per layer per year, one wonders if, in fact, we are reaching a physiological limit. In summary, there will be fewer, but larger animal units to service with each producing at a higher level of productivity than today. The top managed herds and flocks will be finely tuned with persons in charge having considerable advanced education in agricultural production. In recent years there has been a very significant increase in the number of students returning to primary agriculture from, (a) colleges of agricultural technology with diplomas in agriculture and (b) from universities with degrees in agricultural science. What now of the future? Considering the type of animal agriculture you will have to deal with, we are convinced that the role of the veterinarian will become of greater importance although we foresee a possible shift in function over time. Diagnosis and treatment have been major components of veterinary medicine since the beginning of the profession and will continue to be important but an increasing emphasis will be placed on preventive medicine. Considering the type of animal managers who will be in charge of operations and the size of many of these, it becomes imperative that more effort goes into preventing disease and other problems from occurring rather than to go merrily along day by day with fingers crossed hoping that nothing will happen until
CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
that house full of broilers is marketed or an outbreak of mastitis will not occur. Not all of the animal industry will place major emphasis on preventive medicine. Even if such a shift did occur it still would not eliminate the diagnosis and treatment of illness as it happens. With animals being pushed to the ultimate in terms of productivity and as a result reaching physiological limits, it is going to require the efforts of the veterinarian and the agriculturalist with their combined knowledge of nutrition, management, housing and preventive medicine to keep these animals finely tuned and performing at these highly efficient levels. This team approach to herd health or preventive medicine will grow in importance in the years ahead. As animal production becomes more technical then the type of service you, as a veterinarian, must supply, will by necessity, become more complex and sophisticated. Specialization with group practices is going to be a must if the veterinary profession is to properly service the animal industry of tomorrow. Many of today's livestock and poultry producers have too much at stake in terms of investments to have an error made in diagnosis when something rather unusual hits the laying house or the feedlot. The group practice approach with several veterinarians with different areas of specialization as well as the generalist and, hopefully, an agriculturalist, is the combination of resources required in the future to meet the demands of a dynamic animal industry. The amount of technology which is available today for application to animal production is voluminous. No one person has the capability to be expert in all fields of study and so specialization becomes a necessity. The successful group practice of tomorrow, in terms of properly servicing the animal industry, will be those which most effectively combine those essential areas of specialization. For this reason, the combination of veterinarian and agriculturalist is essential in such an enterprise. On this particular topic, it is necessary to comment on the possible future role of technicians in the practice of veterinary medicine. This subject may be somewhat controversial but in spite of this, it should be dealt with in a discussion of this type. As members of society we all have a responsibility to most effectively utilize the resources available to us be they physical, like energy, or human. Can a veterinarian in the future afford to spend his or her time performing certain functions with respect to animal agriculture which, to me, are sub-professional but yet technological.
In certain circumstances it may not be economically feasible to employ technicians to perform certain functions in the practice and we must realize that clients may also offer some resistance, but these obstacles can be eliminated to a large degree over time through proper education. Veterinary medicine and animal agriculture are both going to face increasing concern from the public at large about the safety or "purity" of animal products for human consumption. Granted in many cases alarmists stir up the public with erroneous or exaggerated reports, but in spite of this they have a message the veterinarian, the agrologist and the producer cannot, and must not, brush aside. The public is going to demand safe, high quality food and it is up to the animal industry to be certain it is provided. The veterinarians, along with the agriculturalists and the owner-operator, all as part of the animal industry, must shoulder some of this responsibility. There must not be any indiscriminate use of antibiotics and drugs at any phase of the animal production cycle. In addition, there must be greater emphasis placed on and adherence to the recommended withdrawal period for such chemicals, before the animal or its products move into the food system. The veterinarian faces a dilemma: the client wants the animal treated and the veterinarian knows how to, but the "purists" consider much of this as unnecessary contamination of a natural product. As we see it, preventive medicine is without question a step in the right direction as it should cut down on the amount of actual treatment required and hence reduce, as much as is possible, the danger of contamination. The veterinary profession and the animal industry have a big task to perform in the area of education. Firstly, the animal operator must become fully conversant with the guidelines associated with the management and/or treatment of livestock and pouiltry from the standpoint of food product contamination, withdrawal periods, etc. Secondly, the public at large must be made to appreciate that the proper treatment of animals is to their benefit in several ways. Through the maintenance of healthy animals, efficiencies in animal production can accrue and thus cost of product to the consumer is not unnecessarily inflated. In addition, proper herd and flock health is one means of guaranteeing safety of product for human consumption. Throughout Canada today, governments are involved to varying degrees in large animal practice and hence in animal agriculture. This range is all the way from a government sub-
204
PROBE
77 in direction and new challenges presented. As the structure of animal agriculture changes so must the practice of veterinary medicine if it is to effectively service the industry. Greater emphasis will be placed on preventive medicine with the team approach being recommended. This team will include the veterinarian, both general and specialist, the agriculturalist, the technician and the owner-operator. All members of this team will be placing more emphasis on, and be more concerned about, the use of chemicals, including antibiotics, pesticides, etc., in animal health care in order to ensure that abuses in the use of these products do not occur which could affect food quality and endanger human health. Although private enterprise practices will still be the dominant force servicing the animal industry, there will likely have to be increased government assistance either directly or indirectly in order for all regions to be satisfactorily serviced.
sidized veterinarian whether it be a grant or a verticare arrangement, to the full-time salaried government employee. When one considers the possible structure of animal agriculture in the future, one cannot help but become concerned about how livestock and poultry producers are going to be serviced in particular regions as the number of farm operators reduces. There will still be a future for veterinary medicine in these areas or regions because the animal industry will demand it, but viable practices will not likely exist without some form of government support. It is the intent of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to continue with this type of support to the animal industry when need is determined. In spite of this, we contend that private practices will still be dominating the scene in the animal industry for many years. In summary, we foresee a very challenging future for veterinary medicine in animal agriculture, but there will be some definite shifts
THE EXPANDING PROFESSION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE K. F. Wells* VETERINARY MEDICINE is as old as recorded history and veterinary practices of some sort undoubtedly are as old as civilization itself. The earliest association of man and animal was that which existed between prehistoric man and the dog, and this undoubtedly started man's care of animals. Great strides were made in the application of veterinary art, but it was not until the advent of the great cattle plagues of Europe in the early 1700's that veterinary art became veterinary science with the establishment of the Veterinary School in Lyons, France in 1762, followed by the veterinary schools of London in 1791 and in due course the Ontario Veterinary College in 1862. But how far have we really come, not in the sense of treating sick animals but in the sense of veterinary medicine as a profession. Writing in Veterinary Medicine (1934) on the "Development of Veterinary Medicine in North America" the editor D. M. Campbell said "It is notorious among the informed that, compared to its merits, veterinary medicine is
*Former Veterinary Director General of Canada.
less known and least appreciated among the professions and sciences and perhaps among the industries, not only by the general public, but by agriculture which in the main, it serves. Veterinary medicine on this continent occupies a position subordinated below what its importance merits, or what its very material achievement justifies. Such has been the case for at least half a century." We as a profession must broaden our horizons beyond the application of animal health measures, that is the treatment of sick animals, meat inspection, a very limited public health involvement and research in animal diseases, to a position of equal partnership in administration and management of the animal and allied industries if we as a profession are to survive and expand. This, we must do if the animal industry, on which the world depends, it to survive, expand and prosper. Surely this is our responsibility. In Canada we graduate approximately 275 veterinarians per year, whereas the agriculture colleges graduate approximately 3500 agriculturalists per year - more than ten times the
205
surgical insurance program, but to date all attempts have ended in failure. I feel that veterinary medicine will follow a trend in the future toward central hospital facilities in which specialists can exclusively engage in their own private specialty practice. This type of practice offers interaction with other specialty disciplines as well as the opportunity for limited teaching programs. These institutions are beginning to make inroads throughout the country today and though their suc-
'77 cess cannot yet be clearly determined, the trend seems to be in this direction. Some of these facilities have failed and some have changed in concept from their original plan, but more attempts at this type of function are being made. Though economics are still a major factor in their success, I personally feel that this will be the trend for the future and that this concept is in the best interests of veterinary medicine and good veterinary service.
THE FUTURE FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE J. C. Rennie* DURING
THE PAST TEN YEARS many
significant
changes have taken place within the animal industry. The number of individual farm units keeping livestock and poultry have dropped rather significantly; the average size of those remaining and the productivity level per animal, have increased. For example, in Ontario today, we note a reduction of 16,190 dairy farmers, 18,000 pork producers and 3,500 poultry producers in the last decade. In spite of this, the total production of most of our animal products has remained fairly constant and, in fact, in some cases increased. These trends will not hold true across all regions of Canada but the general picture for the country as a whole falls into this type of pattern. Will they continue at the same slope for several years and then level off? Will the rates of decrease in number of animal units and the increase in size and productivity begin to slow and possibly reach a fairly constant level? One cannot be absolutely certain of what will definitely happen but we believe the likely occurrence is reasonably clear. We anticipate a continuation of the decline in the number of farm units with livestock and poultry, but in certain cases this decline will be rather modest. The average size of operation will continue to grow but not into extremely large operations. For example, we would expect to see more "100 cow dairy herds" but we fail to see much growth in the
*Executive Director, Education, Research and Special Services, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. 203
number with 200 plus milking head. The productivity level per animal unit will continue to increase, although in certain areas, like egg production with an average of 250 eggs per layer per year, one wonders if, in fact, we are reaching a physiological limit. In summary, there will be fewer, but larger animal units to service with each producing at a higher level of productivity than today. The top managed herds and flocks will be finely tuned with persons in charge having considerable advanced education in agricultural production. In recent years there has been a very significant increase in the number of students returning to primary agriculture from, (a) colleges of agricultural technology with diplomas in agriculture and (b) from universities with degrees in agricultural science. What now of the future? Considering the type of animal agriculture you will have to deal with, we are convinced that the role of the veterinarian will become of greater importance although we foresee a possible shift in function over time. Diagnosis and treatment have been major components of veterinary medicine since the beginning of the profession and will continue to be important but an increasing emphasis will be placed on preventive medicine. Considering the type of animal managers who will be in charge of operations and the size of many of these, it becomes imperative that more effort goes into preventing disease and other problems from occurring rather than to go merrily along day by day with fingers crossed hoping that nothing will happen until
CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
that house full of broilers is marketed or an outbreak of mastitis will not occur. Not all of the animal industry will place major emphasis on preventive medicine. Even if such a shift did occur it still would not eliminate the diagnosis and treatment of illness as it happens. With animals being pushed to the ultimate in terms of productivity and as a result reaching physiological limits, it is going to require the efforts of the veterinarian and the agriculturalist with their combined knowledge of nutrition, management, housing and preventive medicine to keep these animals finely tuned and performing at these highly efficient levels. This team approach to herd health or preventive medicine will grow in importance in the years ahead. As animal production becomes more technical then the type of service you, as a veterinarian, must supply, will by necessity, become more complex and sophisticated. Specialization with group practices is going to be a must if the veterinary profession is to properly service the animal industry of tomorrow. Many of today's livestock and poultry producers have too much at stake in terms of investments to have an error made in diagnosis when something rather unusual hits the laying house or the feedlot. The group practice approach with several veterinarians with different areas of specialization as well as the generalist and, hopefully, an agriculturalist, is the combination of resources required in the future to meet the demands of a dynamic animal industry. The amount of technology which is available today for application to animal production is voluminous. No one person has the capability to be expert in all fields of study and so specialization becomes a necessity. The successful group practice of tomorrow, in terms of properly servicing the animal industry, will be those which most effectively combine those essential areas of specialization. For this reason, the combination of veterinarian and agriculturalist is essential in such an enterprise. On this particular topic, it is necessary to comment on the possible future role of technicians in the practice of veterinary medicine. This subject may be somewhat controversial but in spite of this, it should be dealt with in a discussion of this type. As members of society we all have a responsibility to most effectively utilize the resources available to us be they physical, like energy, or human. Can a veterinarian in the future afford to spend his or her time performing certain functions with respect to animal agriculture which, to me, are sub-professional but yet technological.
In certain circumstances it may not be economically feasible to employ technicians to perform certain functions in the practice and we must realize that clients may also offer some resistance, but these obstacles can be eliminated to a large degree over time through proper education. Veterinary medicine and animal agriculture are both going to face increasing concern from the public at large about the safety or "purity" of animal products for human consumption. Granted in many cases alarmists stir up the public with erroneous or exaggerated reports, but in spite of this they have a message the veterinarian, the agrologist and the producer cannot, and must not, brush aside. The public is going to demand safe, high quality food and it is up to the animal industry to be certain it is provided. The veterinarians, along with the agriculturalists and the owner-operator, all as part of the animal industry, must shoulder some of this responsibility. There must not be any indiscriminate use of antibiotics and drugs at any phase of the animal production cycle. In addition, there must be greater emphasis placed on and adherence to the recommended withdrawal period for such chemicals, before the animal or its products move into the food system. The veterinarian faces a dilemma: the client wants the animal treated and the veterinarian knows how to, but the "purists" consider much of this as unnecessary contamination of a natural product. As we see it, preventive medicine is without question a step in the right direction as it should cut down on the amount of actual treatment required and hence reduce, as much as is possible, the danger of contamination. The veterinary profession and the animal industry have a big task to perform in the area of education. Firstly, the animal operator must become fully conversant with the guidelines associated with the management and/or treatment of livestock and pouiltry from the standpoint of food product contamination, withdrawal periods, etc. Secondly, the public at large must be made to appreciate that the proper treatment of animals is to their benefit in several ways. Through the maintenance of healthy animals, efficiencies in animal production can accrue and thus cost of product to the consumer is not unnecessarily inflated. In addition, proper herd and flock health is one means of guaranteeing safety of product for human consumption. Throughout Canada today, governments are involved to varying degrees in large animal practice and hence in animal agriculture. This range is all the way from a government sub-
204
PROBE
77 in direction and new challenges presented. As the structure of animal agriculture changes so must the practice of veterinary medicine if it is to effectively service the industry. Greater emphasis will be placed on preventive medicine with the team approach being recommended. This team will include the veterinarian, both general and specialist, the agriculturalist, the technician and the owner-operator. All members of this team will be placing more emphasis on, and be more concerned about, the use of chemicals, including antibiotics, pesticides, etc., in animal health care in order to ensure that abuses in the use of these products do not occur which could affect food quality and endanger human health. Although private enterprise practices will still be the dominant force servicing the animal industry, there will likely have to be increased government assistance either directly or indirectly in order for all regions to be satisfactorily serviced.
sidized veterinarian whether it be a grant or a verticare arrangement, to the full-time salaried government employee. When one considers the possible structure of animal agriculture in the future, one cannot help but become concerned about how livestock and poultry producers are going to be serviced in particular regions as the number of farm operators reduces. There will still be a future for veterinary medicine in these areas or regions because the animal industry will demand it, but viable practices will not likely exist without some form of government support. It is the intent of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to continue with this type of support to the animal industry when need is determined. In spite of this, we contend that private practices will still be dominating the scene in the animal industry for many years. In summary, we foresee a very challenging future for veterinary medicine in animal agriculture, but there will be some definite shifts
THE EXPANDING PROFESSION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE K. F. Wells* VETERINARY MEDICINE is as old as recorded history and veterinary practices of some sort undoubtedly are as old as civilization itself. The earliest association of man and animal was that which existed between prehistoric man and the dog, and this undoubtedly started man's care of animals. Great strides were made in the application of veterinary art, but it was not until the advent of the great cattle plagues of Europe in the early 1700's that veterinary art became veterinary science with the establishment of the Veterinary School in Lyons, France in 1762, followed by the veterinary schools of London in 1791 and in due course the Ontario Veterinary College in 1862. But how far have we really come, not in the sense of treating sick animals but in the sense of veterinary medicine as a profession. Writing in Veterinary Medicine (1934) on the "Development of Veterinary Medicine in North America" the editor D. M. Campbell said "It is notorious among the informed that, compared to its merits, veterinary medicine is
*Former Veterinary Director General of Canada.
less known and least appreciated among the professions and sciences and perhaps among the industries, not only by the general public, but by agriculture which in the main, it serves. Veterinary medicine on this continent occupies a position subordinated below what its importance merits, or what its very material achievement justifies. Such has been the case for at least half a century." We as a profession must broaden our horizons beyond the application of animal health measures, that is the treatment of sick animals, meat inspection, a very limited public health involvement and research in animal diseases, to a position of equal partnership in administration and management of the animal and allied industries if we as a profession are to survive and expand. This, we must do if the animal industry, on which the world depends, it to survive, expand and prosper. Surely this is our responsibility. In Canada we graduate approximately 275 veterinarians per year, whereas the agriculture colleges graduate approximately 3500 agriculturalists per year - more than ten times the
205
