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Regulation breach on farm
Author(s) -
Steele Mike
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.d4499
Subject(s) - culling , notice , dead body , medicine , commission , general surgery , veterinary medicine , law , political science , pathology , herd , autopsy
A farmer client, known to be sceptical of all things veterinary, requests a visit. Examination of a pregnant suckler cow reveals an infected, ulcerated growth on its third eyelid. You provisionally diagnose squamous cell carcinoma of the third eyelid, and suggest removal of the mass under local anaesthetic, with the caveat that by the time the cow had calved and reared its calf, the growth would probably have returned and culling would then be recommended. However, the client insists on palliative treatment with a time limit, without removal of the mass. A courtesy visit a week later reveals that the cow is showing signs of pain from the growth. On arrival at the farm, however, you notice several untagged dead calves and two dead sheep in a ditch on the farmer's land by the entrance. How do you approach the farmer to remind him of his responsibilities to both the cow's welfare and the dead animals?