Tax restrictions keep vets in traditional sole trader model

Ireland has about 2,400 veterinary practitioners serving 130,000 farmers.

Of course many veterinary practices are now city based and deal almost entirely with pets through small animal clinics. Equally, some vets work on Department of Agriculture-based projects including meat plant and livestock inspection duties.

Other vets work almost exclusively within the horse and greyhound industries. Surprisingly enough, a report from the Competition Authority suggested that after all of these non-traditional activities are excluded only about 60% of registered veterinary practitioners work in private practice.