Demographic profile of the veterinary profession in New Zealand, 1985

The demographic characteristics of the veterinary profession in New Zealand are examined using information supplied by registered veterinarians to the Veterinary Surgeons Board in their applications for annual practising certificates in 1985. Comparisons are made with the veterinary professions in other similar countries, and with the medical and paramedical professions in New Zealand. In 1985 1308 registered veterinarians were working in New Zealand and 304 were overseas, whereas in 1976 the equivalent figures were 748 and 182. This represents an increase of 73% in the number of registered veterinarians in the last 10 years. Eighteen percent of veterinarians were female. The mean age of veterinarians was 38 years, but females in the profession were on average much younger (32 years) than males (42 years). Clinical practice provides employment for 70% of veterinarians: of these 59% work principally with farm animals and 41% with non-farm animals. The remaining veterinarians are employed by Government (22%), University (5%) and Industry (3%). The current demographic structure of the profession has been markedly influenced by the opening of New Zealand's only veterinary school at Massey University in 1963. Differences from other medical professional populations in New Zealand and overseas principally reflect the marked change in the number and sex ratio of graduates entering the veterinary profession since that time. It will take about another twenty years before the population reaches a stable age and sex structure, assuming that current graduation patterns persist throughout that period. Because the structure of the population is changing, considerable caution is needed in predicting future employment trends from data for a single year.     

The veterinary profession in New Zealand

Extract

At the beginning of this new decade, the veterinary profession in New Zealand faces a future of boundless opportunity. After a rapid and difficult growth period of twenty years, the profession is now well established as an entity, and if we, its members, show wisdom and vision, we can ensure that veterinary science will take its rightful place in the progress of New Zealand. If we fail, the profession will find itself playing a minor role in the future. We dare not allow ourselves to just drift into the years ahead.     

The future of the veterinary profession in New Zealand

Extract

It is not unusual for the President of this Association or like bodies, when delivering the presidential address, to base the views and opinions expressed on prolonged experience of some particular branch or specialist function of the profession in which he is an acknowledged expert. I can claim no expertise and can draw only on experience of a general nature gained in 25 years since qualification. All but the last four years have been in the field, and it is from this background, devoid of academic or specialist distinction, that I have the privilege of addressing this gathering, and it is fitting that my discourse should be of a general rather than an. academic nature.     

Work-related stress in the veterinary profession in New Zealand

AIM: To investigate sources of work-related stress in the veterinary profession in New Zealand, perceptions of levels of stress being experienced, and the social support that veterinarians are using to manage work-related stress. METHODS: A postal survey was distributed to 1,907 veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ). The survey collected information on respondents' age, gender, type and number of people in the workplace, stress levels, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, causes of stress and sources of support. RESULTS: Nine hundred and twenty-seven (48.6%) veterinarians returned useable responses. Veterinarians who were retired, working overseas or did not provide information about their type of work were excluded from the analysis, leaving data from 849 (44.5%) veterinarians. Women experienced more work-related stress and depression than men, veterinarians in small animal/mixed practice reported more stress and depression than those in other types of work, and younger veterinarians experienced higher levels of stress than older veterinarians. The main sources of stress were hours worked, client expectations, and unexpected outcomes. Respondents were also stressed by the need to keep up their knowledge and technical skills, and by personal relationships, finances and their expectations of themselves. Most respondents reported that they had good networks of family and friends to help them deal with stress. In general, respondents tended to rely on informal networks such as family and friends, other veterinarians and workmates to provide support. The small proportion of respondents who reported clinical depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts were more likely than respondents in general to have used health professionals, counselling, pastoral/spiritual support and the Vets in Stress phone line, but less likely to have sought support from employers and workmates. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for a wide range of strategies to manage work-related stress among veterinarians. Sources of stress in the workplace must be identified and strategies developed to control those which present a significant hazard. Strategies may include attention to workloads and working hours, design of work processes, and increasing social support. Training in work-related skills such as communication, conflict management and stress management may be helpful where lack of these skills is contributing to stress. Support services such as help lines and mentor schemes are also available and information about these needs to be more accessible.     

The veterinary profession and meat hygiene in New Zealand

Extract

The previous speakers in this symposium have already dealt with many aspects of this important New Zealand industry. I. G. Watt, in particular, has broadly outlined the role of the Meat Division within the Department of Agriculture as it applies to the industry and allied fields. The purpose of this paper is to present the very important role that the veterinarian has to play in assuring the quality of foodstuffs derived from the New Zealand livestock industry.     

The history and development of the veterinary profession in New Zealand

Extract

Presidential addresses may treat of quite a number of matters and be relevant to the proceedings. I propose, somewhat ambitiously, to review the position of the veterinary surgeon in New Zealand today, and to make certain suggestions as to future policy.     

Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling of national milk-recording data of seasonal-calving New Zealand dairy herds

A spatio-temporal analysis was undertaken with the aim of identifying the dynamics of herd mean individual cow SCCs (MICSCC) in seasonally calving New Zealand dairy herds. Two datasets were extracted from the Livestock Improvement Corporation's extensive national dairy recording database: (1) milk-recording data aggregated at the herd-level and (2) sales questionnaire data containing information on the size, location and infrastructure of each farm. A Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling approach was applied to the analysis. The data were aggregated by 10 km² grid cells and linear regression models were developed with spatially structured and unstructured random effects, a linear temporal trend random effect and spatial-temporal interactions for log-transformed median MISCC (ln(median MISCC)).

Significant associations were found between ln(median MISCC) and milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, farm area and number of cups in the dairy. This led us to suggest that SCCs should be adjusted for volume and constituents prior to determining a threshold MISCC for identification of subclinical mastitis (SCM) problem herds. Part, or all, of the temporal trend in MISCC in the spatio-temporal model was accounted for by inclusion of yield and milk constituents as independent variables. This supports the hypothesis of a dilution effect with potential consequences for misdiagnosis of SCM, particularly in late lactation. Unmeasured covariates were similarly likely to be spatially structured and unstructured.     

Feline T-Lymphotropic Virus (FTLV) (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection) in cats in New Zealand

AIM: To identify and enumerate colony forming units (cfu) of mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk (BTM) from pasture-fed New Zealand dairy cows in the Waikato region.

METHODS: BTM samples from seven seasonal-calving dairy herds in the Waikato region were collected monthly from August to December 2004 (cows calved during July-September). Milk samples were cultured on blood aesculin and MacConkey agar plates for 24 h, and the number of mastitis pathogens identified and counted.

RESULTS: Colonies identified in BTM included aesculinpositive streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), and coliforms; counts ranged from zero to >1,000 cfu/ml. Counts >1,000 cfu/ml for total aesculin-positive streptococci, CNS and coliforms were present in 48%, 51% and 11% of BTM samples, respectively. Counts of Staph. aureus ranged from zero to 1,000 cfu/ml, but first appeared in BTM samples only in October. Staphylococcus aureus was repeatedly isolated in BTM from 4/7 farms during the testing period.

CONCLUSIONS: Counts of mastitis pathogens in this study appeared high relative to interpretive criteria set by other workers, which may indicate a high prevalence of mastitis risk factors on these farms. Interpretation of results is difficult as aesculinpositive streptococci, CNS and coliforms can be isolated from the environment as well as from cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis. Furthermore, Staph. aureus is inconsistently excreted from infected bovine mammary glands. More extensive study of this method is required in New Zealand to attempt to further validate the interpretation of results of bacterial culture of BTM.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This method may be used to monitor challenge from mastitis pathogens over time as part of milk quality control programmes. The technique may be of use as a screening test to provide information to veterinarians, affording them the opportunity to have an input into mastitis control on dairy farms in New Zealand.     

拜益生对奶牛隐性乳房炎、产奶量和乳品质的影响报告

[目的]为了研究拜益生对奶牛隐性乳房炎的预防作用及对奶牛产奶量和乳品质的影响。[方法]选择100头荷斯坦奶牛,随机分成10组,每组10头,其中5组为实验组,5组为对照组。从产前7d开始至产后60d,实验组每天每头牛添加拜益生40g,其余饲养管理与对照组完全一致。每15d测定一次产奶量,每个月测定一次DHI。[结果]表明:实验组日均产奶量与对照组比较,提高1.84～2.28kg/头.d-1,差异显著(P0.05);产后第30d,实验组牛奶的乳脂率和乳蛋白率比对照组分别提高0.4%、0.37%,差异极显著(P0.01);与对照组比,总固体率提高0.83%,体细胞数降低15.64万/mL,差异均显著(P0.05);产后第60d,实验组牛奶的乳脂率提高0.27%,体细胞数降低16.79万/mL,差异显著(P0.05),乳蛋白率和总固体较对照组均有不同程度的提高,但不显著。[结论]拜益生对提高奶牛的产奶量、改善牛奶品质和预防奶牛隐性乳房炎有积极的作用。     

湟源县荷斯坦奶牛隐性乳房炎的中草药治疗试验

对湟源县荷斯坦奶牛隐性乳房炎的发病情况进行了调查,发现荷斯坦奶牛隐性乳房炎发病率较高,为3.67%。采用中草药治疗本病,并取得了很好的疗效,治愈率为90.9%,且有无残留,不易产生耐药性的优点。     

Prevalence of pathogens causing subclinical mastitis in 15 dairy herds in the Republic of Ireland

: Milk samples from 285 cows in 15 dairy herds were collected for bacteriological analysis. Cows were selected on the basis of a somatic cell count (SCC) exceeding 200,000 cells per ml at the three most recent milk recordings prior to sampling. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis were the predominant isolates accounting for 21% (n = 61) and 19% (n = 53) of isolates, respectively. Streptococcus uberis was more frequently isolated from split-calving herds than from spring-calving herds and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). Herds with suboptimal housing had a significantly greater prevalence of S. uberis than did herds where housing was adequate (P < 0.005). The isolation rates for S. aureus was significantly greater in herds where parlour hygiene was suboptimal (P < 0.05).     

Culture results from milk samples submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories from August 2003 to December 2006 in New Zealand

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the pattern of isolation of major mastitis-causing organisms isolated from milk samples submitted to five veterinary diagnostic laboratories in New Zealand.

METHODS: The culture results of 25,288 milk samples that were collected from dairy cows throughout New Zealand from August 2003 to December 2006 and submitted to a group of veterinary diagnostic laboratories were assembled, reviewed and summarised. Logistic regression was used to analyse the effect of year, region (i.e. North vs South Island), and season on the probability of isolating the two most common organisms.

RESULTS: The most commonly isolated mastitis causing organisms from all samples were: Streptococcus uberis (23.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.5%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; 7.2%), Strep. dysgalactiae (6.2%), Bacillus spp. (4.0%), and coliforms (3.7%). The percentage of samples with isolates of Strep. uberis or Staph. aureus was affected by island, year and season (p<0.001). For most of the year, except in late winter and early spring when Strep. uberis was much more common, the percentage of isolates of Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus were not apparently different despite the former being an environmental pathogen and the other a contagious one.

CONCLUSION: The pattern of isolation of major mastitis-causing organisms, as determined from culture of milk samples submitted to diagnostic laboratories in New Zealand, has changed significantly over the last 40 years, with a substantial increase in the percentage of isolates that are Strep. uberis and a decrease in isolates of Strep. agalactiae. There is a clear seasonal pattern to the isolation of both Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus, particularly the former.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge of the aetiological agents causing bovine mastitis on a farm is of value in determining the choice of treatment. This dataset shows that, although there is seasonal pattern to the isolation of mastitis-causing organisms in New Zealand, both Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus are isolated throughout the year, so bacteriology is of value in determining aetiology even in late winter/early spring.     

微量元素铜,锌,硒对西门塔尔牛奶量,乳品质的影响

本试验采用三因素,按Ｌ９（３＾４）正交设计,进行了奶牛饲料中添加不同水平的Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｓｅ饲喂试验,结果表明,补饲牛的健康良好,受孕率增高,换毛快,日均产奶量明显增加,乳蛋白,乳指先进等乳品质量指标均不同程度的增加,补饲后比补饲前高,补饲的后比对照组高。