Folks, I knew this was going to be a really GOOD topic when I first posted, and I now see I was right !! hhehe
First off, notice I did not mention the actual name of the individual down there in Miss. school. Trust me, he was no better at bed side manner in 1981 as he is today, in fact, he may have even gotten worse. Basicly he always felt that if you were not a lisenced vet, even back then before all this new regs came out, then you were below him. He is from Australia, not that that is a bad place, but I always kind of felt it was thier gain and our loss when he came here! Well - I beter quit.
Here is my take on some of the questions posted. I will try and keep it as short as possible.
A few years ago, there was quite a stir up in Iowa concerning a couple of LAYMEN practitioners who were failing to meet some standards of work. It caused a large scale debate on the ethics of Lay versus Vet. Iowa finally came up with a plan I hear to overcome some of that debate, basicly making every one who offers the practice to pass a series of tests and/or procedural exams to prove thier ability before hanging up the good old sign on the door. This has helped a lot -- and there are several Lay practitioners up there doing business today --- and FYI -- the very ones who caused the issue were trained by -- you got it -- the Elsden school. Go figure! I could say alot more, but I don't like lawyers alot so I won't.
As far as what it takes to be CERTIFIED in ET -- well that is also set in stone now. When I started in the early 80's, all we needed to do is prove our ability with XX number of transfers/flushes per year and meet the minimum average % -- and we were certified. I was certified in the mid 80's, already doing it for 4 years -- and was given AETS number E-875. In 1990 or 91 as far as I can remember, things became more of an issue with some of the newer vets just going into practice, and suddenly I was notified I was no longer certifiable due to not being a licensed Vet. I was frustrated of course, but it did not stop me from continuing my business and we were very busy. That was 9000 donors ago -- yes I said 9,000. I have done my very best for many years to be friends with as many good vets as possible -- don't step on toes and you won't be kicked !!!! hehehe
As far as Preg exams go, another area that has long been considered a VET only practice. I have preg checked over 50,000 cows in my career, but a large percent of those were done at home for customers already there and were a part of the business. When you go to another facilty expressly for the purpose of being paid to do pregnancy exams, it becomes another issue entirely. Liability and other issues come to the plate, and that is where your license will become important. The vets I know out here all pay alot for thier insurance to cover them in case of problems, a LAY person can not get that coverage I understand, so you are just OUT THERE. Too many issues to cover here.
For those that want to go to school and do thier own cows -- I commend you for your desire. If you are, on the other hand, planning on going just to make money at it -- you had better have a large check book and several YEARS to practice first -- because it is NOT an easily learned and perfected deal. I can almost promise you all this -- if I had not learned many many years ago, knowing today what it takes to get good at it, I would NOT try and learn it now, especially if I were wanting to offer it to others. NO WAY. Still the most frustrating thing I do is having to call a customer and tell him his cow was only marginaly successfull, or she had all dead embryos. It still kills me every time today. I do however take great pride in calling one up and telling them thier previously sub fertile cow just made a dozen excellent embryos -- the sound of joy from them is worth every sleepless night out breeding cows in the snow!!!
Call and or write any time -- I have no problems passing on information -- I enjoy it even -- gotta leave something for others when I get too old to do it right?? Don;t plan on quitting any time soon, but it sure isn't getting any easier!
Terry