Grumpy old vets revisited

Abstract

Veterinarians can thrive in large-scale dairies by positioning themselves to be a part of the management team. There appear to be a number of common characteristics of veterinarians who succeed in management teams. They tend to "own" herd performance data. They are more likely to advise decision-making processes, and are less likely to position themselves as holding the answers. They work with outside consultants, but position themselves alongside management to evaluate and implement the proposals. These roles contrast with the traditional expectations of veterinary medicine.