08/09/06 More veterinarians

More Veterinarians If any of you students have ever thought about a career in veterinary medicine, this might be the time to look at that option a little closer. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to tell you why. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association there could be a growing need for livestock veterinarians in the next few years, so this might be the time for students to get a little more serious about becoming a veterinarian if that was ever a career choice. The AVMA says the need for new veterinarians will increase by 13 percent with the USDA seeing a shortage of some 400 veterinarians. The largest shortage will be in food-animal or large animal veterinarian practices. Taking figures from Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine's 106 graduating seniors shows only 22 plan to have a practice that includes large animals. Factors that contribute to fewer large animal vets are the large number of women in veterinary schools that tend to gravitate toward small animal practice, fewer vet students from rural areas and the cost of veterinarian education. In 2004, the USDA was authorized to repay student debt of new vets that work in rural areas or inner cities, but the USDA has not started that program yet. While ranch and farm raised kids have an easier time working with large animals, city students could learn how to work with these animals by getting part time jobs on horse race tracks, cattle feedlots, livestock sale yards, ranches or dairies  it might pay big dividends. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter, AP, July 12, 2006