Read on Twitter
Have you seen this letter in @vettimesuk? If you haven't it, the TL;DR is this: farm vets are 'conniving' and supporting 'systemic abuse' on farms in the UK, and our jobs don't need protecting. Well thanks. Thanks a lot.
Contrary to these suggestions, farm vets work to protect animal welfare within the food production system. Whatever you think of that system, there are animals in it, and until it exists no more, I'm going to be damn sure I use my influence to ensure it is the best it can be.
Making the suggestion that we support agriculture because we make money off it is no better than moaning about vets 'over vaccinating to make money.' We are intelligent to know that our motivations are more nuanced than that. We also care deeply about the communities we work in.
While also still related to the food chain, though not exclusively, farm vets also protect humans from zoonotic disease. They are instrumental in animal and product export all over the world. They safeguard human and animal health.
If you've just survived eating sticks your whole life, fine, but I would wager most people have benefitted from a farm vet's efforts somewhere along the line.
Farm vetting is bastard hard work, potentially lower salaried, sometimes dangerous - the work can be physically and mentally exhausting, but we get up at 4am and calve that cow, stitch up that goat, tend that llama because we give a crap about animals and the humans behind them.
Our welfare standards ARE among the best in the world.Could they be better?Yep. Will they improve if we shame vets out of the industry so there're fewer eyes on our herds? No. Do I wanna keep challenging issues that compromise welfare? Yes. Where can I best do that? On the farm.
We have a diminished workforce and are doing our damned best, and attitudes like that show a complete disregard for our efforts, our compassion, and our ambition to make this system into the best version of itself.
During the C19 pandemic, the work of farm vet professionals was essential, not just for maintenence of welfare, but to sustain food production that feeds the nation. And during lockdown, global emissions dropped-as farm vets went to work and cows kept being cows, funnily enough.
I don't pretend to know what this individual's contribution is to a better future, but I have too much respect for my colleagues to suggest that they just trot off and find other jobs. You may not agree with animal agriculture, but do not denigrate my colleagues for the takedown.
So yes, veterinary surgeons are in an "impossible position," - how about we work together to ameliorate that instead of openly stating that the life's work of your colleagues is, at worst, abuse, and, at best, meaningless in the veterinary press? 
I mean I've just found earlier correspondence from same person suggesting that they don't want to undermine farm vets so... my confusion is pretty understandable innit.
