As technology offers farmers more tools in the form of animal medicines and other chemical products, veterinarians play an increasingly critical role in maintaining not only the health of farm animals, but the quality of the nation's food supply as well.
Farmers do use veterinarians regularly.
The beef producers averaged six visits a year with a practitioner. Dairy farmers averaged 20 visits per year. Large-animal practice especially can require long hours away from the office, since so much work is done on farms themselves. Like Dr. Corselius, many large-animal veterinarians work from the back of specially modified trucks that allow them to perform almost any procedure on the spot. Large Animal practitioners tend to work irregular hours, because of the need for early-morning herd checks and emergency procedures that can occur at any time.