Large
animal veterinarians: today and tomorrow
Jena Thompson, posted Nov. 1, 2006
In
any agricultural community, there is one profession that is
a necessity. It must be held by a person, who cares about
not only animals themselves, but the entire role of agriculture
production—large animal veterinarians.
Unfortunately, the number of large animal, or food animal,
veterinarians has been diminishing over the years. “With
only five percent of the population involved in agriculture,
the exposed ‘pool’ has gone down quite a bit,”
Loren Schultz, clinical assistant professor for food production
animal sciences, said. He went on to say there has been a
shift of veterinary medicine practices to more urban areas,
therefore increasing the number of small animal veterinarians.
“The demand has definitely increased,” Schultz
said. “The food animal veterinarians are stretched so
thin with their clients; it is difficult to get them there
for emergencies.”
This is good news for prospective large animal veterinarians
studying at MU. CAFNR sophomore Jacob Brummet has always been
interested in large animal medicine. “It's my life,
it's all I have ever known and something I would like to prosper
in,” Brummet said.
But, the job market isn’t what is inspiring him. “I
am definitely planning on working with large animals, probably
because it is the most-diversified and challenging type of
practice,” he said. “When a client brings in a
mean dog you have the equipment and facilities to handle them,
but when you have to rope a mean cow and snub her up to a
post, you have to be more creative.”
Yet, those more “creative” acts can be the reason
many students are turned away from large animal practices.
It can often times be difficult for people to handle larger
animals, however if the passion is there, the size of the
work shouldn’t make a difference. “Technique is
much more important than size when dealing with large animals,”
Schultz said. “Sure, bigger people have an advantage,
but it’s nothing that can’t be overcome,”
The lack of large animal and food animal veterinarians not
only affects producers, but the entire agriculture spectrum.
“Not only do these people help animals, but also assist
producers in making money,” Schultz said. When production
is helped, more people throughout the world can be fed, and
therefore more money will be made for the producers.
Schultz also believes that the future market will most likely
keep increasing. Demand and interest in large animal and food
animal veterinarians will become more important not just on
the producer level, but through government and private industries
as well. “Students should consider food animal medicine
if they want a career that can impact thousands,” Schultz
said. “Another perk is that larger animal veterinarians
make about $10,000 more starting out than small animal practices.”
