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