Growing Forward 2 - Final Report | Page 17

VETERINARIANS There are approximately 4,500 veterinarians currently licensed in Ontario. Veterinarians are self-regulated under the Veterinarians Act, 1990, which is administered by the CVO. The revenue of the CVO comes primarily through the license fees of veterinarians. In order to practice in Ontario, veterinarians must meet the requirements set out in the Veterinarians Act to attain a license. As well, all veterinary facilities must meet the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario (or be granted an exemption from some requirements). To practice with food-producing animals, a veterinary practitioner must have an accredited Food-Producing Animal Mobile, a Food-Producing Animal Hospital or a Poultry Service. Currently there are 274 Food-Producing Animal Mobiles, 23 Food-Producing Animal Hospitals and 7 Poultry Service Facilities in Ontario. The CVO database contains information provided by veterinarians as part of the registration and registration renewal processes. Currently 756 veterinarians, who represent 17% of the total number of licensed veterinarians, report that they are involved in food-producing animal practice. Of these, 603 are involved in dairy practice, 389 in beef practice, 216 in poultry practice, 473 in small ruminant practice and 279 in swine practice. These numbers total more than 756 as many are involved with more than one species. While it is acknowledged that veterinarians have an integral role in food-producing animal production systems in Ontario, it is noteworthy that expenses associated with veterinary services and products (e.g. drugs, vaccines, etc.) account for less than 2% of total costs associated with livestock farm operating expenses1. There are approximately 4,500 veterinarians currently licensed in Ontario. Veterinarians are selfregulated under the Veterinarians Act, 1990, which is administered by the CVO. Overview of Livestock Farm Operating Expenses: Statistics Canada Data from 2011 and 2006 Census Years 1 17  Antibiotic Use in Food-Producing Animals in Ontario: A Study of the Current Practises and Perceptions of Ontario Veterinarians