This Dairy Veterinarian job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Dairy Vet, Farm Vet, Herd Health Veterinarian or Large Animal Veterinarian. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Veterinarian |
| Also known as | Dairy Vet, Farm Vet, Herd Health Veterinarian, Large Animal Veterinarian |
| Department | Dairy farming |
| Reports to | Farm Manager or General Manager |
| Direct reports | Junior vets and animal health technicians (para-vets) |
What does a Dairy Veterinarian do?
The Dairy Veterinarian leads all animal health work on a large commercial dairy farm, from preventive herd health planning to emergency surgery. The role drives fertility, controls disease and biosecurity risks, keeps the farm within veterinary and welfare law, and builds the skills of the animal health team.
Dairy Veterinarian duties and responsibilities
Herd health planning
- Write, implement and review the herd health plan with farm management
- Set protocols for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment
- Track mastitis, lameness, metabolic disease and fertility data and correct problems
- Manage vaccination, parasite control and responsible use of antibiotics
- Oversee the storage, recording and withdrawal periods of all veterinary medicines
Fertility and breeding
- Run the fertility programme, including synchronisation, AI support and pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasound or palpation
- Investigate and treat infertility and reproductive disorders
- Analyse conception rate, calving interval and other fertility indicators and act on the results
- Work with breeding advisers on sire selection and genetic improvement
Clinical and emergency care
- Diagnose and treat sick animals and carry out surgery such as caesareans and displaced abomasum correction
- Set up and lead an out-of-hours emergency cover rota
- Manage critical cases and carry out humane euthanasia when needed
- Carry out post-mortem examinations and arrange laboratory tests
Biosecurity, welfare and compliance
- Plan and enforce biosecurity controls for animals, people and vehicles
- Control zoonotic disease risks and protect staff health, following a One Health approach
- Report notifiable diseases to the authorities and keep all legally required records
- Ensure the farm meets national veterinary, welfare and assurance standards
Calves and youngstock
- Set neonatal care, colostrum and disease surveillance protocols for calves
- Check that vaccination, feeding and disbudding schedules are followed
- Investigate calf losses and advise on rearing improvements
Training and data
- Train and supervise vets, para-vets, herd staff and milkers
- Run regular workshops and keep SOPs up to date
- Analyse health and treatment records in herd management software
- Prepare reports for management decisions and for audits
Dairy Veterinarian qualifications and experience
Essential
- Veterinary degree (such as DVM, BVSc or BVetMed) recognised in the country of work
- Registration with the national veterinary regulator, such as the RCVS in the UK
- Several years' experience in dairy or farm animal practice, ideally with large commercial herds
- Proven fertility skills, including ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis
- Competence in farm animal surgery and emergency care
- Good spoken and written English for reports and staff training
Desirable
- Postgraduate certificate in cattle or dairy herd health
- Experience leading herd health programmes on high-performing herds
- Experience training para-vets or farm staff
- Ability in a second language spoken by the farm team
- Experience with herd management software and data analysis
Skills and attributes
- Accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment
- Fertility and reproductive management
- Confident farm animal surgery
- Herd health and preventive medicine planning
- Biosecurity and disease control
- Interpreting herd data
- Calm decision-making in emergencies
- Teaching and mentoring staff
How success is measured
- Clinical mastitis and lameness rates
- Conception rate and calving interval
- Cow and calf mortality and involuntary culling rates
- Antibiotic use per cow and no residue failures
- Audit and legal reporting compliance
- Herd health plan reviewed on schedule
Working conditions and safety
Based on the farm, with work in housing, handling facilities and the parlour in all weathers. The role includes a share of out-of-hours emergency cover and requires full PPE for clinical, surgical and zoonotic risk work.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow animal welfare, biosecurity and medicine-use procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Veterinarian interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Veterinarian role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- How would you reduce the number of displaced abomasums in a high-yielding herd?
What a good answer shows: Links them to transition management, dry cow nutrition, body condition and fresh cow monitoring, not just surgery. - What would you look at first in a herd with rising clinical mastitis cases?
What a good answer shows: Uses records to separate environmental and contagious patterns, then reviews milking, housing, dry cow therapy and culture results. - How would you build and review a herd health plan with farm management?
What a good answer shows: Uses farm data to set priorities, agrees protocols and targets with management, and reviews the plan regularly. - Which fertility indicators would you track, and how would you act on them?
What a good answer shows: Tracks submission, conception and pregnancy rates and calving interval, and traces poor results back to their causes. - Several calves die suddenly in one week. How would you investigate?
What a good answer shows: Acts quickly with post-mortems and laboratory tests, reviews colostrum, hygiene and housing, and considers notifiable disease. - A cow shows signs that could indicate a notifiable disease. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Knows the legal duty to report, isolates the animal, restricts movements and protects staff while awaiting officials. - How do you promote responsible antibiotic use while making sure sick cows are still treated promptly?
What a good answer shows: Balances welfare and stewardship through clear protocols, diagnosis before treatment, selective dry cow therapy and good records. - How do you protect farm staff from diseases that can pass from animals to people?
What a good answer shows: Identifies the main risks, uses hygiene, PPE and animal disease control, and trains staff to report concerns. - How would you train para-vets and herd staff so treatment protocols are followed consistently?
What a good answer shows: Uses practical training, clear SOPs, regular checks and feedback, and makes sure staff understand the reasons behind protocols. - How would you organise an out-of-hours emergency rota for vets and para-vets?
What a good answer shows: Plans fair cover with clear escalation and handover, and makes sure staff are rested and competent for the cases.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dairy Veterinarian leads all animal health work on a large commercial dairy farm, from preventive herd health planning to emergency surgery. The role drives fertility, controls disease and biosecurity risks, keeps the farm within veterinary and welfare law, and builds the skills of the animal health team.
Employers usually look for: veterinary degree (such as DVM, BVSc or BVetMed) recognised in the country of work; registration with the national veterinary regulator, such as the RCVS in the UK; several years' experience in dairy or farm animal practice, ideally with large commercial herds.
A Dairy Veterinarian usually reports to the Farm Manager or General Manager. Direct reports typically include junior vets and animal health technicians (para-vets).
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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