Large-Animal Veterinarians In Short Supply - NPR

Oct 3, 2008 · There's a shortage of veterinarians who specialize in large farm animals. It's a problem for farmers and consumers, who need vets to ensure a quality food supply. In New …

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Are large-animal veterinarians in short supply?

It’s no secret that large-animal veterinarians are in short supply across the U.S. How are we going to fix it? Heidi Helff grew up loving animals. For many veterinarians, it’s a cliche for a reason. As the 22-year-old grad student tells it, Helff always knew she was going to be a vet. ...

Why is there a shortage of large-animal Vets in rural areas?

But there's been a shortage of large-animal vets in rural areas since 2003. Experts say that's because of a combination of low wages, long hours and fewer new graduates wanting to live outside a major city. Without vets, farmers and the nation's food supply are more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. ...

Is there a shortage of veterinarians for farm animals?

In rural towns across the country, there's a shortage of veterinarians for farm animals. The pay is low. The hours are long. And it can be hard to get vets to work in areas where there are more cows than people. This is a problem that could leave farmers and the U.S. food supply vulnerable. Harvest Public Media's Esther Honig has our report. ...

What does a large-animal vet do?

Large-animal vets ensure the health of cows, pigs and horses, but they're also the first line of defense against diseases that can spread from animals to humans — so a shortage leaves producers, and global markets, vulnerable to devastating outbreaks. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: ...

Will large animal vets replace vet erinarians?

Food animal veterinarians, commonly called large animal vets, care for animals used in the food supply chain, like cows, hogs, poultry and small ruminants. That number has stayed level for more than 20 years, but it won’t be enough to replace vet erinarians as they retire or leave the industry. ...

Why is there a shortage of companion animal veterinarians?

The number of vets working in companion animal practices increased from 65% to nearly 70% from 2015 to 2020. High educational debt, lower potential earnings and a lack of support are contributing to the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the U.S., according to a new report. ...