Note 1 - General	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
General [Abstract]
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “we,” “us,” and “our” throughout this Form 10-Q). All material intercompany balances have been eliminated. In the opinion of our management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, our results for the periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 23, 2010. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year. Our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. Use of Estimates The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In preparing financial information, we use certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Some of these estimates require difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. As a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Estimates are used when accounting for, among other items, sales returns, allowance for doubtful accounts, customer incentives, vendor rebates, inventories, goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, impairment of long-lived assets, depreciation and amortization, employee benefits, unearned income and contingencies. The estimates of fair value of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date and reported amounts of revenue and expenses for the periods are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. Revenue Recognition We sell products we source from vendors to our customers through either a “buy/sell” transaction or an agency relationship with our vendors. In a “buy/sell” transaction, we purchase or take inventory of products from the vendor. When a customer places an order with us, we pick, pack, ship and invoice the customer for the order. We recognize revenue from “buy/sell” transactions as product sales when the product is delivered to the customer. We accept product returns from our customers. We estimate returns based on historical experience and recognize these estimated returns as a reduction of product sales. Product returns have historically not been significant to our financial statements. We record revenues net of sales tax. In an agency relationship, we generally do not purchase and take inventory of products from vendors. We receive an order from a customer, then transmit the order to the vendor, who picks, packs and ships the order to the customer. In some cases, the vendor invoices and collects payment from the customer, while in other cases we invoice and collect payment from the customer on behalf of the vendor. We receive a commission payment for soliciting the order from the customer and for providing other customer service activities. Commissions are recognized when the services upon which the commissions are based are complete. Gross billings from agency contracts were $101,376 and $92,504 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and generated commission revenue of $6,470 and $4,332, respectively. Gross billings from agency contracts were $282,637 and $234,788 for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and generated commission revenue of $15,791 and $12,094, respectively. Cost of Product Sales and Vendor Rebates Cost of product sales consist of our inventory product cost, including shipping and delivery costs to and from our distribution centers. Vendor rebates are recorded based on the terms of the contracts or programs with each vendor. Many of our vendors' rebate programs are based on a calendar year. We may receive quarterly, semi-annual or annual performance-based rebates from third-party vendors based upon attainment of certain sales and/or purchase goals. Sales rebates are classified in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as a reduction to cost of product sales at the time the sales performance measures are achieved. Purchase rebates are measured against inventory purchases from the vendors and are classified as a reduction of inventory until the product is sold. When the inventory is sold and purchase measures are achieved, purchase rebates are recognized as a reduction to cost of product sales. Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from those determined using the estimates described above. We expect that our estimates in the future will continue to be reasonable as our rebates are based on specific vendor program goals and are principally recorded upon achievement of sales or purchase performance measures. Vendors may change or eliminate rebate programs from year to year.

Note 1 - General

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “we,” “us,” and “our” throughout this Form 10-Q). All material intercompany balances have been eliminated.

In the opinion of our management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, our results for the periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 23, 2010. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

Our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date.

Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In preparing financial information, we use certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Some of these estimates require difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. As a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Estimates are used when accounting for, among other items, sales returns, allowance for doubtful accounts, customer incentives, vendor rebates, inventories, goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, impairment of long-lived assets, depreciation and amortization, employee benefits, unearned income and contingencies. The estimates of fair value of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date and reported amounts of revenue and expenses for the periods are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable.

Revenue Recognition

We sell products we source from vendors to our customers through either a “buy/sell” transaction or an agency relationship with our vendors. In a “buy/sell” transaction, we purchase or take inventory of products from the vendor. When a customer places an order with us, we pick, pack, ship and invoice the customer for the order. We recognize revenue from “buy/sell” transactions as product sales when the product is delivered to the customer. We accept product returns from our customers. We estimate returns based on historical experience and recognize these estimated returns as a reduction of product sales. Product returns have historically not been significant to our financial statements. We record revenues net of sales tax. In an agency relationship, we generally do not purchase and take inventory of products from vendors. We receive an order from a customer, then transmit the order to the vendor, who picks, packs and ships the order to the customer. In some cases, the vendor invoices and collects payment from the customer, while in other cases we invoice and collect payment from the customer on behalf of the vendor. We receive a commission payment for soliciting the order from the customer and for providing other customer service activities. Commissions are recognized when the services upon which the commissions are based are complete. Gross billings from agency contracts were $101,376 and $92,504 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and generated commission revenue of $6,470 and $4,332, respectively. Gross billings from agency contracts were $282,637 and $234,788 for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and generated commission revenue of $15,791 and $12,094, respectively.

Cost of Product Sales and Vendor Rebates

Cost of product sales consist of our inventory product cost, including shipping and delivery costs to and from our distribution centers. Vendor rebates are recorded based on the terms of the contracts or programs with each vendor. Many of our vendors' rebate programs are based on a calendar year. We may receive quarterly, semi-annual or annual performance-based rebates from third-party vendors based upon attainment of certain sales and/or purchase goals. Sales rebates are classified in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as a reduction to cost of product sales at the time the sales performance measures are achieved. Purchase rebates are measured against inventory purchases from the vendors and are classified as a reduction of inventory until the product is sold. When the inventory is sold and purchase measures are achieved, purchase rebates are recognized as a reduction to cost of product sales.

Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from those determined using the estimates described above. We expect that our estimates in the future will continue to be reasonable as our rebates are based on specific vendor program goals and are principally recorded upon achievement of sales or purchase performance measures. Vendors may change or eliminate rebate programs from year to year.

- Definition

Description containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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