A recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS) indicates that revenue for rural food-animal and mixed-animal veterinary practices has decreased by 22% over the past four years. The report, titled "Food-animal Veterinarians and the Persistence of Rural Shortage Areas," provides insights into the ongoing veterinary shortage in rural America, emphasizing the financial struggles faced by these practices.
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Published in September, the study was prepared by ERS economists Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis, and Grace Grossen, and is part of the USDA's Rural Veterinary Action Plan, which aims to provide data on veterinary shortages and their causes. The average revenue for rural food-animal practices now stands at approximately $1.54 million, a significant drop linked to a reduction in U.S. livestock herds.
Veterinarians in these areas are also experiencing financial strain, with average income falling by 19% for food-animal veterinarians from 2017 to 2024 after adjusting for inflation, while rural mixed-animal practitioners saw a 7% decline. According to Capital Press, this translates to average earnings decreasing from around $160,000 to about $130,000. In contrast, companion-animal veterinarians have seen their earnings increase during the same period.
The report highlights that the veterinary shortage is particularly pronounced in beef cattle, as this sector relies heavily on small, independent producers who require individualized care for their animals. Unlike poultry or swine, where oversight can often be managed remotely, beef cattle operations demand hands-on attention, contributing to elevated demand for food-animal veterinarians in specific regions.
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which aims to incentivize veterinarians to work in underserved areas, has seen a concerning trend. In the 2024 nomination cycle, 69% of designated shortage areas went unfilled, with 59% attracting no applications. USDA noted that while 170 veterinarians applied for VMLRP funding, only about 65 awards could be made due to funding constraints.
Mapping bovine veterinarians, the study found that some commuting zones have as few as five veterinarians, leading to a precarious situation where a single retirement could trigger an acute shortage. The report suggests tracking the age and career stages of practitioners to better anticipate future shortages.
While rural residents constitute approximately 14% of veterinary school applicants, nearly matching their population proportion, many rural applicants apply to fewer schools. Once graduated, however, most choose to enter companion-animal practice, further exacerbating the shortage in food-animal veterinary services.
This economic analysis underscores the pressing need for sustainable solutions that extend beyond recruitment to ensure that viable food-animal practices can thrive. The USDA's commitment to increasing funding and simplifying application processes will be crucial in addressing these challenges.