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Retaining vets in farm animal practice: a cross-sectional study.
K Adam1, S Baillie2, J Rushton1
1Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
The Veterinary Record
|May 24, 2015
Summary
UK farm animal vets are crucial for livestock health. Key factors influencing vet retention include supportive practice environments and early career mentorship, not gender.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Agricultural Science
- Animal Health
Background:
- A potential shortage of experienced farm animal veterinarians in the UK poses risks to veterinary business sustainability and livestock health.
- While new graduates are available, recruitment and retention of experienced vets remain significant challenges for practices.
- Retention of farm animal vets is a critical issue impacting the agricultural sector.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing the retention of veterinarians in farm animal practice within the UK.
- To understand the employment, educational, and personal background elements associated with vets staying in farm animal work.
- To provide data-driven insights for improving veterinary workforce stability in the agricultural sector.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing an online questionnaire distributed to UK-based veterinarians with farm animal experience.
- Data collection focused on employment details, educational background, personal history, and future career intentions.
- Statistical analysis of 380 completed responses to determine factors associated with retention in farm animal practice.
Main Results:
- Factors increasing the odds of retention included working in practices with staff appraisals, a commercial farm background, more time spent on farm work, and early career mentorship (on-call with an experienced vet).
- Conversely, working in practices that provided accommodation and a longer time since graduation were associated with lower retention odds.
- No significant association was found between gender and the likelihood of remaining in farm animal practice.
Conclusions:
- Supportive practice environments, including professional development (appraisals) and structured early career support, are vital for retaining farm animal vets.
- A commercial farming background and dedicated time to farm work positively influence vet retention.
- Addressing factors like provided accommodation and early career support could mitigate challenges in retaining experienced farm animal veterinarians.
