simme
Old Dumb Guy
There is sometimes the issue that there are "special" prices for "special" clients - in both directions, high and low.
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- Thread starter jdcopkid
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TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
This vet practice in Coos county has 2 clinics. One is small animal in another town and the other also sees and makes farm calls for large animals but only on Thursdays. They have the large animal handling equipment out back. She is accredited to administer Bangs vaccination. IMO vets these days are way overcharging people, working the pet as child substitute neurosis. I have been told by dairymen that all the dairys in the area do their own vetting.
Travlr
Well-known member
^^^THIS!^^^
OBAX
Well-known member
Are you sure that's not $2.18 per head? That seems closer to the actual cost that $218.00. I do not bangs my heifers since I started doing my own vaccinations on farm, but when I took them in and got them vaccinated I remember it being a no brainer to get them bangs because it was so cheap and they were already in the chute at the vet. I never would have forked out even $20 much less $200 for that.
TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
NO. Its $218 for a bangs vax and the $350 for the farm call fee. They have 2 clinics. One is small animals only in another town, the other has livestock working equipment out back. But she 'only sees large animals on Thursdays'. Even if I hauled them there (a 10 mile trip) it would cost $654 to vaccinate the heifers. Plus, now you have to have a 'relationship' with the vet and they have to legally come inspect your premises once a year for another fee.
Fortunately, my dear elderly dog doctor who walks with a cane used to see large animals will prescribe for my cattle but that's all he can do for them. He hobbled out to his parking lot and looked at a scouring calf once. Gave advice to save her life. Also gave me some doses of oxytocin, no charge.
But he can't vaccinate for bangs
Fortunately, my dear elderly dog doctor who walks with a cane used to see large animals will prescribe for my cattle but that's all he can do for them. He hobbled out to his parking lot and looked at a scouring calf once. Gave advice to save her life. Also gave me some doses of oxytocin, no charge.
But he can't vaccinate for bangs
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TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
.
I have all my heifers vaccinated for bangs. In NY, the vaccine has to be given between the age of 4 - 8 months. As much as cattle are moved from state to state or coast to coast, there is always a chance of Bruc getting spread. If Bruc hits NY, "MY" cattle are vaccinated.
Plus, my cattle ship all over the US, and as mentioned, some states require vaccination.
Plus, my cattle ship all over the US, and as mentioned, some states require vaccination.
Travlr
Well-known member
You might want to check again. Or maybe you've got a vet that is over pricing. I just checked with a vet a friend advised me to call in Klamath Falls and they have a minimum $60 farm call and bangs vaccinations are $25 for small numbers of animals. I didn't think to ask what the discount is for larger numbers, but that was implied.
farmerjan
Well-known member
Ask at the dairy where you got the extra jersey heifers to feed on bottles. Find out if they bangs vaccinate? Take the heifers there when they hit 4-8 months and get them done at the same time... You can halter them and tie to the inside of the trailer and they can get done if they do not want them unloaded on the property for sanitary protocols... Or find out from the local sale barn what vet goes there and see if they can get done there when a vet is preg checking...
Up to you to bangs vacc.... But your "local vet" is RAPING anyone they are charging those fees to... sounds to me like a good case for the BBB to hear about... for their once a week large animal practice...
Up to you to bangs vacc.... But your "local vet" is RAPING anyone they are charging those fees to... sounds to me like a good case for the BBB to hear about... for their once a week large animal practice...
Also, our shots for Bangs is about $5/hd. I rarely have a $350 bill for visit and whatever gets done.
OBAX
Well-known member
I would definitely say that vet is taking you to the bank! It's nice to have those services 10 miles away and available in an emergency, but I would definitely stop using them for routine things. If they charge $350 for a 10 mile trip, then almost 100X what the vaccine should cost, that's a vet relationship that I want no part of. That vet needs to be working on kittens and poodles.
You should be getting EVERYTHING a weaned calf needs, vaccines, wormer, bangs/castorate for around $25-$35 per head. This price varies because some charge a per head chute fee and some do not. Buy the vaccines and do it yourself for $12-$18 per head, but that takes bangs out unless you are qualified.
Sounds like you could go to vet school cheaper than that paying those prices on very many head.
You should be getting EVERYTHING a weaned calf needs, vaccines, wormer, bangs/castorate for around $25-$35 per head. This price varies because some charge a per head chute fee and some do not. Buy the vaccines and do it yourself for $12-$18 per head, but that takes bangs out unless you are qualified.
Sounds like you could go to vet school cheaper than that paying those prices on very many head.
simme
Old Dumb Guy
Probably not. Vet school is going to cost in the range of $250k to $400k and 4 years of no income.. That is after the college work that is the ticket to get into vet school. And would require some serious effort/study to get accepted.
OBAX
Well-known member
And they wonder why there's a shortage of large animal vets!
TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
Four years ago when we first moved here my horse ran away and jumped what looked to him like a hedge of blackberry vines. But it was covering over a strait sided ravine 10 feet deep. He fell down on the rocks and was dying, could not move his hind legs, probable broken back. The only vet in the county that sees large animals would not come out there I guess because we didn't have a relationship. My husband had to shoot him.
