VETERINARY OPPORTUNITIES AND SKILLS

The single most important parameter in measuring pro-duction efficiency in the beef cow herd is the calf output produced annually from each cow that is mated. This clearly implies that there is a need for effective repro-ductive management if production potential is to be realised. Cattle practitioners have long played an impor-tant role in the reproductive management of dairy herds and are well placed to take on the same role in beef herds. However, until recently, few beef herd farmers actively sought veterinary intervention in this aspect of herd management. This may be due to the low input nature of beef production, but perhaps of greater signifi-cance was the subsidy system that existed prior to January 2005, which did little to encourage production efficiency. This was paid on a per cow basis and, in 2004, the payment rate was £151 to £205 per cow, depending on the level of extensification premium that applied. Now, with support removed directly from the number of cows, there is a great need for beef farmers to examine their production system closely with the objec-tive of maximising reproductive efficiency. This has created an opportunity for cattle practitioners. The goal must be for planned intervention, but as there has been little uptake of this type of service previ-ously, few managers of beef cow herds will be immedi-ately convinced that their veterinary surgeon can provide the requisite level of support. Practitioners ’ main way into the herd will remain through the opportunities creat-ed by the problems their clients encounter. The key skills for a practitioner wishing to be involved in this area of work will therefore be the ability to demonstrate an F