BUILDING ON THE VETERINARIAN-CLIENT- PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
By Julia Herman , DVM , MS Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian , NCBA , a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
Communication and relationship building are key components of a successful cattle operation . Both require intentional work and active updating throughout the year , depending on what the focus is . Active communication should be the foundation of the partnership between many parties affecting the cattle operation , including :
• Between a client and their herd veterinarian , developing a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship ( VCPR )
• Between management and cattle caretakers through everyday activities , onboarding and annual training
• Between cattle caretakers and their cattle through improved stockmanship and understanding cattle behavior
Having open conversations with the herd veterinarian throughout the year about cattle care is a valuable way to plan . Cattle care encompasses several overlapping areas including animal husbandry , welfare , nutrition , low-stress handling , and even employee training . Within the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance ( BQA ) program , there are guidelines that touch on these areas to improve welfare through husbandry practices and BQA encourages producers to strive for continuous improvement in all aspects of the operation . This continuous learning and exchange of information are essential for staying up to date with the ever-evolving cattle industry . Cattle producers can make informed decisions and adapt to new challenges and opportunities in the market . All of these are opportunities created with a VCPR .
Rosslyn Biggs , veterinarian and beef cattle extension specialist with Oklahoma State University , works constantly with cattle producers and veterinary practitioners to understand how this relationship can be even more impactful .
“ The importance of a veterinary team member is now more important than ever as many areas , particularly rural communities , experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining veterinarians ,” she explained . “ Additionally , increased oversight such as the Veterinary-Feed-Directive and judicious antibiotic usage make the VCPR even more critical .”
12 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN www . NCBA . org