With a career spanning over four decades in veterinary services, Ian Lean knows a thing or two about livestock.
He actively consults to dairy and beef farms across Australia and is the founder and managing director of Scibus, a leading authority in medicine, nutrition and management of dairy cows – a surprising career trajectory considering his Dad escaped dairy farming and was pretty keen for his kids to not follow in his footsteps.
However, Ian said agriculture was in his blood and he had always had an affinity with animals.
“I wasn’t interested in medicine, and like so many people who are vets, I have a deep engagement with animals,” Ian said.
Over the years, Ian has seen tremendous growth in the health and wellbeing of cows, along with productivity increases which can be attributed to improved knowledge and investment in animal health.
“Farmers improvements in feed quality are second to none, along with their level of professionalism and adoption of technology.”
He said the worldwide transition to better cow management had reduced mortality rates dramatically for things like bloat, milk fever and acidosis.
“Improved nutrition management has made a difference to animal wellbeing and ultimately improved profit for farmers.”
“It really is an exciting and rewarding industry to be a part of,” Ian said.
He said another great achievement the dairy industry could hang their hat on was the huge improvement in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the reduced carbon footprint.
“I have seen a 40 per cent reduction in my time through production efficiencies and the use of additives in stock feed.”
Ian said farmers who had failed to engage and adopt technology had slowly made their way out, while those willing to take on new ideas had adapted and improved operations over time.
Programs like DairyUp have been critical in delivering information and keeping farmers up-to-date.
Dairy UP is a $16 million, five-year industry-driven project with a portfolio of projects aiming to realise three primary objectives:
- Increase productivity and profitability by unlocking the potential of milk, the cow and water
- De-risking the industry
- Developing new markets
It is a coordinated network of partner farms across NSW (and beyond) providing valuable insights into real-world application of new practices, including the challenges and benefits of new innovative technologies.
Ian said the dairy industry was an interesting mix of herd sizes and different systems, but ultimately regardless of what is in place, a happy, healthy cow is a productive cow.
“There may be different systems, resources and skills, but good management processes result in good outcomes for the animal and the business,” Ian said.
Ian believes there is a good future for the Australian dairy industry, but he said caution needed to be exercised in the direction we take.
“Growth and economic signals go hand-in-hand, and we are disadvantaged by pressures from the EU and the compromising of own markets which could impact animal health.
“We should never become a dumping ground for other countries dairy products.”
Ian graduated from the University of Sydney in 1979 and spent six years as a large animal veterinarian in the Hunter Valley of NSW before undertaking a PhD at the University of California, in the US.
He has lectured on clinical nutrition and cattle medicine at the University of California and the University of Sydney, and is currently an adjunct professor in the School of Life Sciences.
He has extensively published on the interactions of nutrition with production, reproduction and health and been a keynote speaker across the globe.
Ian has received many notable awards over the years, most recently he was a recipient of the 2025 Centenary Award, recognising outstanding veterinary leadership across one health, one welfare and professional practice.
Other awards and achievements include the Gilruth Medal and Prize, the Australian Veterinary profession's highest honour, the Australian Dairy Science Award, American Feed Industry Award along with a DVSc from the University of Sydney — the highest academic award in Australia and the UK.