Dr. Vicky Lauer Professional Services Veterinarian Beaver Dam, Wisconsin ANIMART Inc.

What territory will you cover?
I cover most of the dairies in northeastern Wisconsin, and calves throughout the state.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I was raised in the suburbs of St. Louis and worked with horses when I was young. I started working with a food animal vet when I was in college and quickly developed a love for dairy cattle. Since I had zero cattle experience I worked hard to learn as much as I could about handling and behavior as well as disease treatment and prevention. I also became interested in dairy goats and have since shown at ADGA National and state shows. I currently own a hobby farm where I hand milk a few Nubian goats and raise chickens and turkeys.

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I have a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Missouri Baptist University, and a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

What previous positions have you held?
I was an associate veterinarian at the Veterinary Clinics of Berlin-Ripon for the previous two years. While there, I focused primarily on dairy and small ruminant medicine. I developed a love for calves while working there, as calf care was often pushed aside or underestimated. During college I was an intern at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center performing research on anti-fungal proteins produced by a species of alfalfa.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
Dr. Lee Hinson definitely influenced me the most. Working with him for almost six years during college developed my passion for dairy, as I was able to interact with the farmers and develop good relationships with them. You won’t find a harder worker than a dairy farmer, and I decided that I would be hard-pressed to find better people to work with. Dr. Hinson taught me that it’s not about a vet being “above” his clients; it’s about the vet and the client working together for the good of the dairy industry and the long-term success of the farmer.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I desire to be an excellent resource for the most up-to-date information about cattle health and well-being. I prefer to focus on prevention rather than treatment, as prevention makes a producer much profitable. I also emphasize the importance of good calf raising.

Heifers are a dairy’s future, but oftentimes they can be neglected due to all the other tasks that have to be done on the farm. By focusing on calves and ensuring they receive the optimum nutrition and best growing environment, a producer can be more efficient and profitable due to the increased milk production in later years.

Why did you choose this company?
The company’s main focus is to help producers be more productive and profitable by providing services that may be difficult to find elsewhere. We have five veterinarians on staff, each with their own area of expertise, making it equipped to cover every aspect of cattle production. The company is active in the community and the staff are welcoming and friendly. We have a unique set of personalities all working towards one common goal: the longevity of our clients.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I would like our clients to feel comfortable asking any question, regardless of whether it may sound stupid. We can never learn if we don’t ask questions, and sometimes by challenging long-held doctrines we learn that we’ve been going about everything the wrong way. I want to see our clients thrive and be more efficient, and I would like to see calf health greatly improved during my time with Animart. PD