(WI203)FUNDING FROM THE VETERINARY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM WILL BE UTILIZED AT OUR RURAL, MIXED-ANIMAL VETERINARY PRACTICE TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND OUR LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY SERVICES.

The ultimate goal is to ensure the continued care and add additional services tocurrent and new clients within the underserved areas of Northern Wisconsin. To accomplish such goals, updated ambulatory vehicles are the foundation for being able to provide services. A portable chute is also becoming more necessary for the safety of veterinarians and clients. Without a portable chute, some clients havestopped ultrasounding their beef cattle due to lack of safe handling situations. Breeding soundness exams on bulls have also been delayed or not performed due to lack of appropriate handling facilities on rural farms. Having reliable transport and the addition of a portable chutewill result in more clients utilizing services and the ability to accommodate new clientele. Having only one bovine ultrasound has significantly limited the reproductive work performed in the area. The practice has attempted to share one easi-scan ultrasound between two veterinarians, however, the practice zone is too large to effectively share equipment that is needed on multiple farms. An additional easi-scan will enable the two veterinarians to optimize time and provide services to as many areas of the practice as possible. Demand for ultrasound services is the highest on beef operations, but they are the least concentrated group of producers. Both veterinarians are well trained in ultrasonography and an additional bovine ultrasound would directly result in more bovine herd health exams, especially on beef cattle operations. The funding for educational events will continue the practice of providing a variety of educational discussions to all dairy/beef producers of Northern Wisconsin. Educational events are especially important in rural areas. The limited veterinary resources available must be capitalized as efficiently as possible and not squandered unnecessarily. Educating groups in a mass setting is the most efficient and effective means to promote healthy animal agriculture. With the additional equipment and educational funding, Leading Edge Veterinary Servicesanticipates current clients will utilize more advanced veterinary medical services, such as ultrasonography and bull semen collecting, and new clients to join the practice.