title: Survey of the operation of dairy herd health schemes by veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.
abstract: A postal survey of 566 veterinary practices with dairy farms among their clients showed that the majority of the practices were very positive about the benefits of running a herd health scheme. Nevertheless, only a third of them were running a scheme, and most had attracted only a small number of clients. The size of the practice (in terms of the number of veterinarians and the number of dairy farming clients) was the most significant factor determining whether a practice was likely to run a herd health scheme, and the age of the veterinarians did not appear to have any affect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Wassell
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Esslemont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data