Committee presents direction in large-animal vet shortage
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Dec. 21—FRANKFORT — Kentucky is making progress toward resolving a problem: a large-animal veterinarian shortage.
The Veterinary Shortage Working Group, which is made up of agriculture industry stakeholders, has presented a plan to ease the shortage, addressing encouraging Kentucky students into veterinary schools; help in finding opportunities to attend veterinary schools; attracting veterinary school graduates to rural and large-animal practice and keeping veterinarians in large-animal practices.
"I'm extremely pleased with the plan this group has compiled," Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles said. "The shortage of large animal veterinarians is not just a Kentucky issue; it's something we're facing nationwide. We decided to take this challenge head on by creating this task force to look for solutions. This shortage is affecting farmers and may soon begin affecting our food supply.
"This working group brought together the brightest agriculture minds to find solutions and a plan I believe can have huge benefits for the state and nation. As you will find, there is not one or two simple answers. It will take many approaches, programs, and organizations, along with time, to address a problem that has been developing for more than a decade."
Large animal veterinarians are essential to the protection of the nation's food supply. Only 5% of veterinarians in the United States practice on large animals. Only about 3% of veterinarians in the state have dedicated large animal practices.
"Some of the ideas in this report will require government action," Quarles said. "Without question, there is a role for state and federal governments to assist in solving this issue. However, others can be termed as self-help with the veterinary and agriculture communities working together, in some cases on a case-by-case or in local efforts. Some of the tools to aid in these efforts have already been developed."
The plan is available on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's website for review.
