Dairy Cattle Veterinarians Branch Committee

Laurie Gray 

Originally from a lifestyle block in Nelson, I attended Massey University in the hopes of becoming an equine veterinarian. I realised in my first job in Te Awamutu, however, that the clients and animals that suited me best were farmers and cows.

I then moved to Taranaki, where I met my husband before heading overseas for four years. During my time in the UK, I had a great dairy cattle job in Somerset which really cemented my interest in dairy vetting. I arrived back from the UK in 2010 to start a dairy job in Ashburton and haven’t left. We now own a mixed practice which has a significant dairy component.   

I have three kids and a small farm, which keeps life extremely busy. I’m still a horsey girl at heart, trying my hardest to get out show jumping and eventing but may need to settle for watching my daughter instead! 

Bryce Tod 

I was brought up in rural Rangitikei and went to Massey University with the intention of being a sheep and beef veterinarian. I met my wife, Noelle, at veterinary school and we ended up working as dairy veterinarians at neighbouring clinics in the Waikato when we graduated. We moved over the Kaimais to the sunny Bay of Plenty and settled at the Te Puke Vet Centre eight years ago. 

I have an interest in dairy nutrition, lameness and reproduction, and have spent several years helping DairyNZ deliver their Body Condition Score (BCS) Assessor Certification programme to the Bay of Plenty. It's been a great way to meet many of the other dairy veterinarians and technicians in the region. 

Outside work, I'm kept busy chasing around our three kids (six-year-old twin girls and a four-year-old boy). Where I can, I like to get involved with plenty of social sports to stay active and keep my mind fresh. This includes surfing at our local beach with Surfing for Farmers. Disappointingly, the twins are far better already… 

Caleb King 

I returned to clinical practice in 2022 as a way to help the profession during the veterinary shortage. Having lost a good friend and seeing the pressure my colleagues are under locally, I decided to come back and lend a hand. I will continue helping Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as an occasional incursion investigator and will likely end up doing Norbrook adverse event work on contract.

Duncan Crosbie

I graduated from Massey in 2002 and moved to a mixed practice in Southland for three years. Following a brief stint overseas, I returned to New Zealand and began work at Vetlife in 2007. I sat my Australian College exams in pharmacology in 2009.

My work in Vetlife is in production animals with a heavy focus on dairy. I’m particularly interested in mastitis and regularly undertake shed visits to identify solutions to high cell count or high incidence of clinical mastitis.

I stood for the Dairy Cattle Veterinarians Branch Committee because I want to see a dairy profession that is more co-operative, where farmers appreciate the value veterinarians can provide to their business.  

David Dymock 

I graduated from Massey University in 2006 and am currently working as a veterinary technical advisor for MSD Animal Health. Prior to this, I worked primarily in dairy and equine practice in New Zealand, Australia and the US.