Severson's Vetscan had superior technology, but Idexx had the advantage with veterinary distributors, who currently place machines with 14, 000 vets, compared with 7, 000 for Abaxis, which relies on those sales (and the 3 million discs) for 74% of annual revenue.

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The other expanding careers are as veterinarians, veterinary technicians, athletic trainers, financial examiners and various information technology specialists.

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Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Glossop explained that tagging would be a good thing to do "but technology isn't there to do it without anaesthetising the badger" and the department "might need Home Office licence to do this as well".

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