A leading veterinary practice that launched just five years ago and now works with farms across a swathe of central Scotland has opened a second site in Strathaven as it continues to grow its client base.

Tinto Farm Vets was founded in the South Lanarkshire village of Carstairs in 2020 by Ayrshire native, Ross Wilson and Chris McGregor, who grew up on a farm near Antrim in Northern Ireland.

The pair met while studying veterinary medicine at the University of Glasgow and both went to work at the same veterinary practice after graduating in 2013.

However, when the business was later acquired, they decided to go it alone and launched Tinto Farm Vets, which is named after Tinto Hill, a prominent local landmark just outside Carstairs.

Today Tinto Farm Vets works with all shapes and sizes of farms including dairy, as well as both pedigree and commercial beef and sheep across a wide geographical area spanning Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk and down to the Ayrshire border.

The practice is also a member of XLVets which is a community of independently owned veterinary practices that works collaboratively by sharing best practice, experience, knowledge and skills to define the highest standards of veterinary care.

Tinto Farm Vets’ new site is in Hamilton Road Industrial Estate in Strathaven and the practice has also grown its team with the appointment of experienced farm vets, Jenna Montgomery and Matt Jackson, who have both worked locally for many years. Following these latest appointments, Tinto Farm Vets now employs an 11-strong team, which includes seven vets.

Chris McGregor said: “Our whole ethos is about providing farmers with a consistent and high level of service and as one of only a few independent practices in central Scotland, where we’re on the ground every day working alongside our farmers. We can quickly adapt and make decisions to help them and their businesses. Our farm clients appreciate all this, and it’s a key factor in our success.

“Opening a second site in Strathaven, complete with a pharmacy and offices, makes us much more accessible for lots of our clients who regularly need to collect medications and seek advice from our veterinary team, so it’s immediately proving popular.”

Ross Wilson added: “We are delighted to have Matt and Jenna on board because they’re both very experienced and well-known farm vets in the local area, so they’ve immediately hit the ground running.

“We’ve also been fortunate to have the support of XLVets, both when we originally launched the business and during this expansion. The community includes lots of highly experienced farm vets, who have shared their advice and experience with us, spanning clinical issues through to procurement, which has been invaluable.”

Andrew Curwen, CEO at XLVets, said: “Tinto Farm Vets is a superb example of how ambitious independent practices can thrive. It’s been a privilege to work with Ross and Chris over the past five years and to see them growing the practice and building their client base is testament to the whole team’s hard work and quality offering.

“Crucially, while our community is helping with advice and guidance, there’s no doubt that we’re also learning from them as they develop and also share their experiences as a young but determined practice.”