For the last few years, there's been discussion within the
agriculture community about a shortage of food animal
veterinarians and finding solutions to help generate interest in
the profession. Since then enrollments in many veterinary
schools are up, but an American Association of Bovine
Practioners' committee report says there actually is not a
shortage of food animal veterinarians, but rather an issue of
rural economies being able to sustain large animal practices.
Since the first reports on the shortage of food animal
veterinarians, the economy has taken a downturn, including
serious financial losses in the dairy segment, shrinking herd
sizes and agriculture in general continuing to consolidate,
explains Christine Navarre, Louisiana State University Extension
veterinarian and AABP president. And some graduates are finding
it difficult to find jobs. "With the changing economy, the job
market in general is tough," she explains. "This report served
as a reality check, and found that there are pockets of unde