ID216 LUNDGREN VETERINARY SERVICES: PROVIDING AMBULATORY SERVICES TO BACKYARD LIVESTOCK

The project goal is to provide access to full-service routine and emergency veterinary care to the rapidly expanding number of small livestock operations and improve the viability and prosperity of the livestock industry in shortage area ID216 through the purchase of critical equipment and diagnostic technologies. This project directly aligns with the overarching aims of the VSGP to facilitate rural prosperity, promote the use of technology to encourage strong stewardship of private lands, ensure sustainability, and provide all Americans access to a safe, nutritious, and secure food supply. Lundgren Veterinary Services is requesting $125,000 to purchase equipment to provide the tools needed to SAFELY provide full service, quality medicine to backyard livestock producers. Additionally, this equipment will ensure long-term viability of the practice. The purchase of a mobile Silencer squeeze chute will provide small cattle operations with veterinary access regardless of facilities or ability to transport livestock. Furthermore, a chute will provide a safe method to provide livestock with any diagnostic or treatment option and is key to veterinary access. Advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment that will be added to the practice includes: portable digital radiography and lead aprons, breeding soundness equipment for cattle and small ruminants, portable centrifuge for packed cell volume and total protein determination, autoclave, a basic mobile gas anesthesia machine, and multiparameter anesthesia monitor. The overall goals of the 3-year project period are to provide veterinary access to backyard livestock operations, offer technologies to improve animal husbandry and quality of veterinary care, and promote education to producers, high school students, and veterinary students.Year one of the project will be primarily dedicated to providing access to veterinary care and regulatory services to small cattle operations through promoting the use of portable, safe animal restraint, also making veterinary services more efficient and cost effective. There is expected to be a large growth of 50% in the number of clients the practice will serve as a direct result. Small ruminant services will be expanded to offer full service veterinary care through use of advanced diagnostic and surgical care options. Year two of the project period will be dedicated to continuing to increase the number of new clients, community outreach (4H and FFA events), hosting veterinary students, establishing strong veterinary-client-patient-relationships (VCPR) with repeat clients, and providing education on the importance of routine care, technologies to improve animal husbandry practices, and regulatory services such as brucellosis vaccination, tuberculosis, and trichomoniasis testing. The goal of the project in year three is to reduce the number of emergent cases as a direct result improving knowledge and the production practices of backyard livestock producers. Introduction of safe animal restraint, veterinary access, improved animal husbandry, and producer education will promote reduced morbidity and mortality, resulting in fewer emergency calls and an increased number of routine services. Overall, better management practices are a team effort by both the producer and the veterinarian which can result in a prosperous, thriving group of backyard livestock operations.