Learn with TIAH Become a member Careers Business skills Resources Professional development About us Contact us

19 March: Site maintenance at 16:00 GMT today - if you are logged in at this time you will be logged out briefly.

Farm vet

Large animal farm vets play an important role in supporting healthy livestock, optimising animal welfare and safeguarding public health. Most farm vets work visiting farms, but others have advisory roles in large organisations and may work in abattoirs.

Also known as a large animal vet. This role is often specialised in areas such as dairy, poultry or pigs.

This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business.

The role of a farm vet is a rewarding one that sees the role holder outdoors building a rapport with farmers and smallholders, and their livestock.

As a farm animal vet, you may work with the full range of common farmed animals and birds such as sheep, cattle, pigs and poultry, but also some less recognised animals, such as goats, llamas, alpacas or even buffalo. Each group of animals tends to have its own care regimes and common ailments and because of this some vets will specialise in just one type of animal.

Becoming a vet is a very popular aspiration and to achieve it you will need to complete a great deal of training in both practical and theoretical studies. You will require top A levels (AAA/AAB) results and up to six years studying at university, along with relevant work experience.

Once qualified you can apply to a practice that covers farm animals where you will need to gain more experience in treating animals, completing reports/paperwork, and working with staff in the practice. Due to animal production being concentrated in some regions of the country, you may have to consider relocation in if you want to work with certain animals.

The job of the modern vet is not just to treat animals that are already displaying signs of disease or injury but also to advise on prevention of poor health in animals. This may take the form of working with farmers to develop farm health and biosecurity plans to prevent disease. Farm vets will also advise on fertility and consult around improving the farm environment and they may also make recommendations on behaviour issues.

As well as helping farmers when their animals are ill, farm vets are often called on to assist farmers when livestock are struggling to give birth. Vets and farmers/farmworkers have to have very productive relationships to maintain the good health and welfare of the livestock and learn and develop a great deal from each other’s experience and expertise.

The role of farm vet is a challenging one. Vets will sometimes need to work long hours in poor weather or late into the evening. You will need to have the resilience to cope with working with very sick animals that may need to be euthanised. You should also be fully aware of the dangers posed by working with large, unpredictable animals and be prepared for some jobs requiring a degree of physical strength.

Many large animal veterinary practices will also take part in research projects to develop better treatment plans, improve understanding of livestock and bring in new technologies relating to animal health.

As a farm vet your responsibilities might include:

Providing preventative advice and developing health plans with customers
Diagnosing and treating a range of different livestock displaying signs of illness or injury
Effectively communicating diagnoses and treatment plans to farmers and farm workers in charge of livestock
Advising livestock owners about disease threats and prevention methods
Providing a consultation service around other matters such as fertility, behavioural issues and housing
Keeping up to date with the latest methods, medications and technologies for treatment of farmed livestock
Completing all relevant records and statutory paperwork/reports in relation to treatment of farm livestock
Working effectively with all role holders in the veterinary practice and on-farm

To work as a farm vet, you should:

Have excellent communication skills
Be able to build excellent intra-personal communication skills
Have a keen eye for detail
Show empathy for, and understanding of, animals
Enjoy working outdoors
Be accountable for decision making
Be able to adapt quickly to changing situations
Be effective working both independently and as part of a team
Have strong organisational skills
Be caring and approachable when dealing with human clients

A farm vet should have experience of working with a range of animals and their owners.

This could begin with non-veterinary roles such as working in a grooming parlour, stables or on a farm involved in lambing or shearing.

There are also opportunities for volunteering with animal charities such as the Blue Cross, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) or the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

The role would suit someone who works naturally and instinctively with animals and who wishes to use their skills and knowledge to support the health and welfare of animals.

As a guide, large animal vets or farm vets can earn annual salaries of £30,000 to £60,000 or even £80,000 or more for partners.

The higher figures depend on factors such as location, nature of business and level of experience.

This role will often include the use of a vehicle and may also include accommodation. In addition to shifts, the role may also require some weekend working.

As a large animal vet or a farm vet, you could progress your career if you choose to do so.

For example, you could further develop your knowledge and skills through further training courses or study to become a specialist in one form of livestock.

You may also want to develop your business management skills and either become a partner in a larger practice or set up your own practice.

To become a farm vet, you will need to study a relevant degree at university, typically requiring a minimum of two A grades and one B in A levels, including two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.

Certain high grade GCSE results may also be a requirement, though this varies across universities and is worth checking when deciding on which A level to choose.

Some universities will consider applicants who have relevant vocational qualifications, such as a BTEC Diploma in animal science with distinction. Additionally, some universities will accept applicants without the relevant A level or vocational qualifications due to special six-year programmes.

Degree courses in veterinary science or medicine exist across the country and are four to six years in length. You will need to be a registered member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) at the end of your degree.

Universities which offer veterinary studies or veterinary medicine include, the University of Cambridge, the University of Nottingham, Harper Adams and Keele University, The Royal Veterinary College, University of Liverpool, University of Surrey, The University of Central Lancashire, and the University of Bristol.

Once qualified, a veterinary surgeon will be expected to continue to develop their expertise, with 35 hours a year of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) being a mandatory minimum.

There are some useful resources that have been developed to help potential applicants decide if veterinary medicine is the right path for them. These include: