Westpoint Veterinary Group and Stock 1st have announced that they plan to merge. The move, which combines two of the leading farm animal-only veterinary practices will form the UK's largest farm animal practice, responsible for the care of approximately 100,000 cattle, 100,000 sheep as well as 3,000 breeding sows and a significant game bird population.
Westpoint Veterinary Group was formed eight years ago by Rob Drysdale, senior vet and director of the business, and has its headquarters on a farm near Warnham in West Sussex. The group currently has three practices in the south and east of England and employs 16 vets. In addition to these, Westpoint Consultancy is a nationwide service for farmers requiring input on specific issues, alongside their own local vet. Rob and co-director Matt Dobbs, who joined the group in December 2003, work with clients from Cornwall to Wales, and even Northern Ireland. Westpoint is the veterinary partner for the Tesco Producer Groups (beef, sheep and dairy producers supplying Tesco) and is actively involved in assisting farmers to meet the requirements of the various supply contracts. Westpoint Consultancy works closely with a number of other organisations including Defra, Blade Farming and all the pharmaceutical companies. It also operates www.farmacy.co.uk the responsible face for the provision of POM-V medicines to farmers in the UK.
The incorporation of Stock 1st takes Westpoint Veterinary Group to a six-branch business employing around 24 vets, including one full time locum to provide consistent cover for vets and additional support.
Stock 1st Veterinary and Livestock Services was established in August 2002 and also focuses exclusively on farm animal work. It has branches in Chichester, Petersfield and Cornwall as well as a base at Faygate, near Horsham although this latter centre will merge with Westpoint's existing headquarters, as the two are based only a few miles apart.
"A key mission for the Westpoint business is to show clear business benefits to our clients, so management protocols and treatment regimes are devised with cost benefit and cost effectiveness in mind," said Rob Drysdale.
"The practice has invested in the latest computer programmes and technology to allow us to analyse everything from individual milk samples to the cost and performance benefits of adjusting feed rations. Incorporating our existing systems and approaches, with what Stock 1st offers will bring a range of valuable and innovative solutions to farm businesses. We also intend to build on the farmer training and education programmes that both practices are well known for," Matt Dobbs added.
Commenting on the structure of the business and the economies of scale it should be able to use these to the benefit our clients' farms, Mr Drysdale added: "Westpoint sees itself firmly in the middle of the chain from farm to retailer and from supplier to policy providers. Our work with Defra, the Rural Development Agencies and others allows us to lobby on clients' behalf. Meanwhile, involvement with Tesco, Blade Farming, St Merryn Meats, Southern Counties Feeds, Arla and Robert Wiseman Dairies means we are at the forefront of discussions surrounding the supply of milk and meat, enabling the vets to work as effectively as possible with clients.
"At the same time, industry links and the sheer volume of some of the products we buy deliver some of the most cost-effective prices available and www.farmacy.co.uk offers transparent, competitive, reliable and responsible medicine charging."
The new business will now stretch from Kent in the east to Hampshire on the west and Essex/Suffolk in the north. There is also a centre in Launceston, Cornwall.
