As the poultry industry across Canada enters a period of unprecedented modern-era change with the convergence of several big issues and targets for improvement, a major advantage is emerging in the form of innovation-focused veterinary companies that are embracing a progressive mindset and expanded role to help producers and their industry meet the challenge.
“We are at the forefront of a new era of poultry production – no question,” says Dr. Tom Inglis, a leading poultry veterinarian who is also founder and managing partner at Poultry Health Services. “The industry is rapidly evolving. As veterinarians, we too must embrace new models and new ways of thinking to help the industry adapt and succeed.”
The perfect storm of key issues and rising expectations coming together includes the need to address antimicrobial stewardship, animal care and sustainability excellence, along with overall profitability, while meeting the increasingly specific requirements of customers and consumers spanning a broadened range of diversified marketing opportunities.
Aligning health strategies to broader game plan
The role of veterinarians in diagnosing and treating health issues has never been more important. However, they must increasingly do so with an eye to these additional requirements, pressures, demands and opportunities. They must align poultry health strategies within a broader game plan for success tailored to the specific needs and objectives of each operation.
The emphasis of veterinary approaches is expanding more strongly from simply ‘diagnose and treat’ to prevention and surveillance. Among the most progressive veterinary services providers, it is also shifting to a more central strategic advisory role, invested in the overall management and success of poultry production.
Integrated approach pays dividends
“Rather than simply a strict health focus, there is a rising need for veterinarians to adopt bigger picture viewpoints and to contribute to broader strategies involving collaboration and coordination with additional areas of expertise,” says Inglis. “Health approaches and considerations ultimately touch all aspects a poultry operation. We can have a stronger central role in overall strategy and helping producers reconcile and align various pressures and needs. This is an approach we have embraced with our own practice. We see it as the way of the future.”
Poultry Health Services is a leading example of a veterinary company embracing the concept of integration, including prominently through its participation in Poultry Partners. Poultry Partners is an in innovative model started by Poultry Health Services, which provides veterinary and health management services, in collaboration with Nutrition Partners, which offers nutrition options and formulations. The combined initiative offers an integrated approach to animal health, nutrition, on-farm management and business development services.
sermo.farm is fortunate to work with this progressive company - at a time when forward-thinking insights and innovation have never been more important for an evolving agriculture and food system.