Decline in number of large-animal veterinarians is expected to continue, study finds

We've been following the shortage of large-animal veterinarians in rural America, most recently here, and now there are hard data to support widespread reports of the problem. The number of large-animal vets is expected to decline as more students opt for small-animal practices, says a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The study found that only 2 percent of veterinary school students in 2010 graduating class said they planned to work mostly with large, non-pet animals," Olivia Munoz of The Associated Press reports. "Another 7 percent studied a mixed curriculum that included all types of animals but the majority of responses leaned toward practicing pet care."

AVMA spokesman David Kirkpatrick told Munoz, "We have known for years anecdotally that vets were having a difficult time finding people to work at their practice or selling it when they retire. But now we know how big the problem is and how that will magnify over the years." Munoz reports, "Current vets said they already drive for hours to meet with clients, and officials are worried about the impact on food safety, as large-animal veterinarians serve as inspectors at ranches and slaughterhouses."

The number of small-animal vets rose from 30,225 in 1998 to 47,118 in 2008, but farm-animal vets fell from 5,553 to 5,040 in the same period. A 2008 AVMA survey reported small-animal vets made $64,744 on average, compared to $57,745 for large-animal vets. Half of farm-animal vets are over 50 while just 4.4 percent are under 30, Munoz reports. More than a dozen states offer some incentives for vet students who pledge to work in an area in need of large-animal vets. (Read more)