Tatura Vet Clinic's large animal services sold to Apiam

While farmers came to grips with the news — some of them mourning the longest continual relationship in their lives — the Bendigo-based Apiam immediately entered negotiations to buy the livestock portion of the Tatura business.

Apiam managing director Chris Richards said the company successfully purchased the Tatura clinic's large animal client list in the days before Christmas.

“As soon as we heard the clinic was wrapping up their large animal service we made contact with them,” Mr Richards said.

By January 12, Apiam had already provided services to more than 40 Tatura dairy farmers.

Tatura Vet Clinic said in a statement it had "sadly reached the point of needing to discontinue" the large animal services because of pressures heightened by the COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.

“The veterinary industry has increasingly been challenging in recent years by a shortage of vets, particularly those specialising in large animal species or looking to work in regional areas,” the clinic said.

For the Tatura clinic the lockdowns happened at the worst possible time, with respected bovine specialist Ian Gill retiring in April and two further vets electing to move on soon after for personal reasons.

“Despite all our efforts, it has not been possible to find suitable replacements for these vets,” the clinic said.

“While Dr Phil Stammers continues to deliver his usual care to the pets of Tatura, we are not in a position where we can accommodate the level of service we have traditionally offered our farming clients.”

The clinic's parent company, National Veterinary Care (NVC), also told Country News that sister branch Mooroopna Veterinary Clinic had consolidated into the Tatura clinic in November because of the vet shortage.

“Merging the Mooroopna Veterinary Clinic, along with its team, back into Tatura will help safeguard the long term viability of the clinic,” the VetPartners-owned NVC said.

Apiam will run the newly acquired large animal service out of its Kyabram clinic and the soon-to-be-open Shepparton site.

Mr Richards said the Benalla Rd facility in Shepparton was currently being fitted out and should be opened in early February.

“We've assembled an experienced team of vets and support staff (at the Shepparton clinic), many who are well known in the local community,” Mr Richards said.

“We are committed to the dairy industry.”

Apiam have the largest team of dairy vets in the Goulburn Valley, with 10 dairy vets in total between the Kyabram and Shepparton clinics.

On top of an emergency call service and ProDairy consultancy service, Apiam will be providing scheduled runs each week for routine services to help Tatura farmers save on travel costs.

Apiam's purchase of the Tatura Veterinary Clinic's large animal service came with no staff or equipment — just records and the client list.