Colorado Cattlemen's Association Policy on Rural Veterinarian Shortage

The Colorado cattlemen Association recently passed policy that addresses the veterinary shortage crisis in rural areas. CCA Executive Vice President, Erin Karney.

"This has been a topic that's been coming up. But it seems that we're at a crisis level right now in rural areas, as vets are getting older and there's no one replacing them. And so as there's more regulatory requirements through FDA, as over-the-counter antibiotics are going away in June, we're kind of looking at it saying how are we going to meet all these regulatory requirements when there's not the level of rural vets that there used to be she says they are supporting current programs and new ideas that will help to fill the rural veterinarian void, supporting the veterinary well Loan Repayment Program, as well as some new innovative ideas that potentially are being introduced, like loosening up indirect and direct supervision for veterinary technicians and exploring this idea of mid-level practitioner for veterinarians."

The policy was drafted at their recent midwinter conference to support members' needs and Karney says it will most likely come up on the Colorado State legislative level in the near future.