Addressing the imbalance
Independently owned Farm Vets Balla is the first-ever veterinary practice to be set up in this rural area between Claremorris and Castlebar. It is a one-vet operation at present, and dedicated exclusively to farm animals such as cattle, sheep, horses, and donkeys, as well as offering herd health planning and TB testing. The farm-animal focus allows them to give full attention to the specific challenges and needs of farmers, says Shane. Its opening has been welcomed by locals.
“Our clients are primarily drystock, suckler and sheep farmers, and we also have a number of dairy farms on our books too,” he says, giving a flavour of the surrounding farming enterprises. “But, by and large, it’s a strong drystock and sheep area. We are in a central location, so we can provide a reliable service to farmers within a 50km radius of the practice. A number of our clients also undertake some embryo transfer work to produce commercial calves for the show calf market, so we definitely see a mixture of everything in the practice.”
Since commencing his studies and subsequently moving on to become a veterinary practitioner, Shane notes that he has witnessed great change in agriculture. He explains: “I have observed significant shifts in farming systems. There has been a marked decline in overall cattle numbers, particularly among suckler cow herds, which is a major concern. At the same time, there has been a noticeable increase in interest in alternative production models, such as calf-rearing enterprises and calf-to-beef systems.
“There is also a growing number of part-time farmers, which has brought changes to my work as a farm vet in rural Ireland. In many cases, my busiest hours are now between 5pm and 11pm when farmers return home from their day jobs,” he says.
By farmers for farmers
Originally from Smithboro, Co. Monaghan, Shane trained as a vet overseas in the University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary. During his time as a veterinary medicine student, he work-shadowed vets in various practices across Monaghan, Donegal and Mayo, where he says he gained a lot of knowledge that has stood to him in his career as a large-animal vet and where he had many mentors. Now, Shane lives in Co. Mayo and as well as being a self-employed large-animal vet, he runs a suckler enterprise comprising commercial cattle, pedigree Angus and pedigree Charolais herds. Shane comments: “After graduating in 2020, I began my career in Co. Fermanagh, where I worked in a large-animal practice, focusing on dairy, beef, and sheep farms. I wanted to gain further experience elsewhere returning to practice locally in Monaghan after my stint in Co. Fermanagh. That was the initial plan, but life had other ideas. I met a Mayo woman, who, like me, is both a farmer and works in the agricultural sector, which brought me to the west of Ireland.” In September 2022, Shane relocated to Mayo and after three years’ working in the county, he decided to establish his own veterinary practice, officially opening the doors to Farm Vets Balla in August this year. He comments: “Our motto is simple: by farmers, for farmers.”
Imbalance
Shane also explains that there is an imbalance between farmer demand and vet availability: “As more farmers balance full-time jobs with part-time farming, the need for flexible, responsive veterinary care grows, yet the number of large-animal vets has not kept pace. This imbalance exacerbates the shortage and highlights why improving working conditions, through shared on-call systems, better support staff, and financial incentives, is just as important as training more graduates.”
Workforce report
Workforce report
Farm Vets Balla’s launch comes in the wake of the Veterinary Council of Ireland's Veterinary Workforce Report, released in May 2025, which highlights growing pressures across the sector. The report found that although the veterinary register has grown by 30 per cent since 2004, rural areas face shortages of large-animal practitioners, essential for Ireland’s agricultural sector. The report also found that an increasing demand for companion-animal care is leading to a shortage of large animal care practitioners, and demand for veterinary services is expected to grow by an average of 3.37 per cent each year to 2033.
Revisiting selection process
This leads us to the recent announcement that there are two new veterinary schools due to open in Ireland in the coming years. As someone who pursued his dream to study veterinary medicine abroad, Shane welcomes the additions but adds that, perhaps, now is also the time to revisit veterinary candidate selection. “We should aim to attract the right kind of people, those who are truly suited to the demands of the work,” he says. “I think we could learn from the UK model, which includes a personal statement, interviews, and a work placement diary as part of the application process. We need to ensure the correct type of people are going into veterinary,” he adds.
“Like many others, I had to study veterinary medicine abroad because I didn’t secure a place in Ireland’s only veterinary medicine programme at the time. I welcome the addition of the new veterinary medicine education providers in the country. But I would also say, it isn’t a case of more graduates and recruiting more vets, it’s about providing the conditions, guidance, and support that allow them to thrive over the long term.” It is Shane’s view that if working conditions stay the same, vets will continue to leave. “By improving conditions first, Ireland can retain vets long-term, making the profession sustainable,” he adds.
Farm Vets Balla has recently received official accreditation and approval from the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the statutory body responsible for the regulation and management of the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing. This approval followed a comprehensive inspection, confirming that the practice meets all required professional, ethical, and operational standards. The premises is leased from Balla’s local agricultural co-op, Western Farming Co-op, which is also located on the grounds here.
Rural issues
Unless the conditions of rural practice improve, with fairer pay, better work-life balance, and stronger supports for young professionals, many will continue to leave for other countries or different sectors, including industry, according to Shane. This will have a knock-on effect in many ways, he explains: “If we want to protect animal welfare, safeguard Ireland’s food exports, and sustain rural communities, then investment in both people and conditions is essential. More vets are needed, but only in an environment where they can thrive.” He says that the real issue and one that he is addressing in opening his rural practice, is the shortage of vets willing to work in farm-animal practice.
He explains: “Each year, around 300 new vets join the VCI register. Recent figures show there are now just under 3,700 vets on the register, a record high, from what I understand. So, based on these figures, I would say there’s not a shortage of vets, in general. But there is a shortage of vets who want to do large-animal work.”
He continues: “The small pool of existing large-animal vets faces long hours, on-call stress, and geographic isolation, leading to burnout and higher turnover, worsening the shortage. Seasonal pressures, especially the spring calving and lambing season, place huge strain on the small pool of vets, increasing exhaustion and pushing more out of the profession. If you’re someone who expects to clock in at 9am and out at 5pm on the dot and you’re not prepared to answer the phone and work outside of those hours, then farm-animal practice simply isn’t for you, in my opinion.” Shane has embarked on his large-animal career with an informed mind: “I find one thing that has stood to me is that I saw placement with various practices in various parts of the country throughout secondary school and also when I was in vet school. I knew exactly what I was getting myself in for going to C-sections and sick calls after hours.”
The growing imbalance is leading to more small-animal vets in urban areas, leaving rural mixed/large-animal practices understaffed. But, with challenge comes opportunity and Shane says this shortage presents a chance to reform the profession by improving conditions, modernising practices, and ensuring rural areas are better supported. “Younger vets entering the profession could bring fresh ideas, energy, and new skills to help modernise veterinary practices.”
A big transition
Shane gives a realistic appraisal of the large-animal-vet role: “It can take time to find your feet as a new graduate vet, especially in large-animal practice, where the workload, responsibility, and on-call demands can be overwhelming. Many new vets struggle with the long hours, unpredictable schedules and the emotional toll of dealing with sick or injured animals, all while trying to build professional confidence, and many suffer from imposter syndrome too, where they often underestimate their own vetting abilities.
“We need to explore ways to make large animal veterinary practice a more appealing career option and I believe that begins with better practice management. Too often, essential support systems are lacking, leading to disorganised practices with inefficient workflows. A veterinary practice, and the service that it provides, is only as good as the people behind it.” Unfortunately, he says, when a vet leaves, it can take up to a year, minimum, to replace them, if a replacement is found at all. He comments: “This adds enormous pressure on those who remain, with many forced to work a one-in-two rota just to keep things going. It is up to veterinary practice owners to retain the staff, when you have a good vet to find a way to hold onto them, with a salary that rewards them for their work, sufficient time off in lieu or paid overtime (give vets an option) and possibly the likes of performance bonuses – the same as what you would expect in every other job.” Shane also says that veterinary technicians – similar to those in the UK – would be a great support in large-animal practice. “By no means am I suggesting that we should replace vets, but positions like these could provide vital supports, especially during peak periods like spring, when workloads in farm-animal practice increase significantly.”
Streamlining operations
Farm Vets Balla arises from a very real and growing need for accessible, independent veterinary support for farmers, says Shane. But he has had to think outside the box to meet that need. He explains: “To streamline operations while still doing our best to accommodate farmers, we’ve implemented a system of grouping work by geographical area where possible. Given how spread out a practice’s area is, this allows us to allocate specific days to certain locations, for example, scheduling TB testing in particular areas on set days. However, this system does not apply to emergency-care calls, which are always prioritised. I also ensure that there is adequate time between TB tests to respond to urgent calls.
“We’ve also introduced a pre-booking system for routine procedures such as dehorning, castration, and similar work. This allows us to structure our schedule more effectively and plan our days with greater efficiency. For instance, we typically carry out these services on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which helps keep Sundays free for emergency care only.” The ultimate goal for Farm Vets Balla is to grow the team of vets and make it an attractive place to work.
A new in-house dung sampling machine at Farm Vets Balla.
Rise in calf-related pneumonia cases
Irish Farmers Monthly asked Shane about some of the large-animal-health-related calls he is responding to. He outlines some of the key issues and management options below.
“In recent weeks, I have seen a rise in pneumonia cases in calves and yearlings on farms, which is common for this time of year as calves are weaned and exposed to environmental stresses. I strongly advocate for farm-specific vaccination programmes as a cornerstone of protecting animal health. Preventative approaches are at the core of our service, and herd-health planning plays a central role in helping farmers maintain productivity and reduce disease risk.
“We have stocked a range of vaccines for both cattle and sheep, which I often refer to as an ‘insurance policy’ for your herd. While no product is 100 per cent, vaccines decrease the likelihood of disease breakdown and even if a vaccinated animal becomes ill, they are generally a lot easier to treat. Tailored herd health programmes are designed to address the unique challenges of each farm, protecting animals against common diseases and improving overall productivity. Vaccines are a very small price to pay in the grand scheme of things, given the current price of cattle.”
Below, Shane outlines the key areas for cattle farmers to focus on.
1. Dosing
We recommend taking faecal (dung) samples to identify which parasites are present before dosing animals. This targeted approach avoids unnecessary treatments, reduces costs for farmers, prevents resistance and ensures better overall effectiveness. Ideally, a dung sample should be taken both before and after dosing to check the efficacy of the product used. Many veterinary practices, including Farm Vets Balla, offer an in-house, on-site dung sampling service, where you can test for fluke and/or worms.
2. Vaccinations
Vaccination programmes should be tailored to the specific risks on your farm, including respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and IBR, as well as clostridial diseases. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines carefully, noting the method of administration (intramuscular or subcutaneous) and whether a booster shot is required.
3. Mineral supplementation
Even after a good grazing season, mineral supplementation should not be overlooked. In areas like Co. Mayo, high molybdenum levels can limit the availability of copper, leading to ill-thrift and poor growth in animals. Regular monitoring and supplementation, where necessary, can prevent deficiencies and improve herd performance. Consider consulting your vet about blood testing to identify any shortfalls in animal diets.
Autumn calvers
For autumn-calving cows, consider vaccinating against scour. These vaccines are given three weeks to three months before calving and protect unborn calves from rotavirus, coronavirus, and Escherichia coli (K99 and F41). Proper timing and adherence to guidelines are critical to ensure the vaccines are effective.
4. Grass tetany in cows
Farmers should remain vigilant for signs of grass tetany, especially in recently weaned cows, cows suckling stronger calves, or those grazing lush pastures. Again, I have seen cases of this in recent weeks. Magnesium supplementation can be provided through dairy meal, boluses, lick buckets, or even flake magnesium added to water. Early detection and prevention are key to reducing losses. I would recommend every farmer having at least one bottle of magnesium in their medicine cabinet and also a bottle of calcium.
5. Ultrasound scanning of cows
Ultrasound scanning allows farmers to identify empty cows and make informed management decisions. Some modern scanners can detect pregnancy as early as 28 days. This year, I have noticed that, with current cattle prices, some farmers are less likely to cull late-calving cows if they are among the best in their herd, given the higher replacement cows. In previous years, when replacement cattle were less expensive, farmers often culled cows that didn’t calve within their preferred window. There also appears to be a growing interest in synchronisation programmes especially for these late calvers.