Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The veterinary medicine industry in Britain in the twentieth century.
- Journal:
- The Economic history review
- Year:
- 2011
- Authors:
- Corley, T A B & Godley, Andrew
- Affiliation:
- University of Reading.
Plain-English summary
This article looks at the history of the veterinary medicine industry in Britain, which hasn't received as much attention as the pharmaceutical industry for humans. Until the 1950s, many sick animals were simply put down instead of treated, and there weren't many advanced medicines available. However, after that time, the demand for veterinary medicines grew quickly, especially because of the rise in poultry farming. Since the 1980s, there has been a shift away from using drugs in farming, leading the industry to focus more on the health needs of pets and domestic animals.
Abstract
Economic historians have focused research effort on accounting for the growth and significance of Britain's pharmaceutical industry, but little effort has so far been directed at the veterinary medicine industry, which formed an important part of the wider sector. This article addresses that gap. Factors responsible for that sector's relative insignificance until the 1950s included a general tendency to slaughter rather than to treat sick animals, the absence of advanced medicines until the innovation of sulpha drugs and antibiotics, and difficult relations with the wider pharmaceutical industry. Thereafter output of veterinary medicines increased dramatically, arising from an exponential growth in the demand for intensively farmed poultry meat. Since the 1980s a decline in the use of drugs in agriculture has caused the industry to concentrate on the health needs of domestic animals rather than those of livestock.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22069805/