Dairy production medicine in the United States

Abstract

Consolidation of the dairy industry in the United States over the next decade will secure the transition of dairy farms to a new model of larger, "scale-adapted" dairies. With that change, the demand for dairy veterinarians in a traditional practice role will decline and the roles played by those that remain will change. Dairy veterinary medicine will largely shift from a "hands-on" technical role to a role in consultation, dairy management and at higher levels in the food and production chain. Veterinary education will need to change as well to respond to these trends.