| By Dr Rashid Mubiru |
VETERINARIANS like any other professionals must use every skill we posses to let animal owners know that they need us; through a process of synchronizing the business aspects of our goods and services so that they are understood and desired by animal owners or users.
Sociological changes in Uganda, changes in the value of land and land ownership accompanied by changes in animal numbers and animal production systems, along with animal production technologies are current factors confronting both animal owners and veterinary practitioners regardless of location, specialty or number of years of experience.
Veterinarians in both companion animal practices or food animal practice are being affected by factors like observed trends changes in the kinds of available foods, methods of food preparations and amount consumed which is affecting the number of meals prepared in our homes.
Changes in the methods of producing food animals are constantly confronting the Veterinarians. Biotechnology has brought forth growth hormones, genetically engineered biologics, improved diagnostics tests and the elimination of many chemotherapeutic agents that are considered hazardous to human health.
Probably the most challenging professional factors is the economics of animal production.
The narrow margin of profit per animal is forcing animal producers to utilize the various facets of production –genetics, nutrition, environment and health – in programs that maximize production at the lowest cost. This economic situation alone is forcing many of the elite or economically empowered protein producers into large units, utilizing the latest technology available. Thus, the family farm is being replaced by larger, better managed units as the main supplier of animal protein. Therefore, proper understanding of the training requirements, roles and functioning of the veterinary workforce requires greater emphasis for a developing country like Uganda.
These basic facts have changed the role of the veterinarians to one which requires an intense all year-round logistical support but also with deliberate funding which is not only beneficial to themselves but to animal protein producers, the tourism industry and the general economic performance of the country.
Wish you all a happy World Veterinary Day 2024 commemoration to be held in Rakai-DATIC.
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Mubiru Rashid -senior veterinary officer -Buliisa DLG. My roles and functions are to promote good animal health practices during production, processing and consumption but also prevent and control animal diseases.