The decades-long shortage of veterinarians, especially large animal veterinarians, is reaching an all-time high in the United States. Across 46 states, 500 counties report a dire shortage of these professionals, vital for farmed animals trapped in the disturbing cycle of agricultural exploitation. This gap in care not only endangers the lives of countless sentient beings but also highlights the unsustainable reliance humanity has on animal farming, which poses massive ethical and ecological dilemmas.

“Food Animal Veterinarians” in Decline

Veterinarians specializing in large and farmed animals are often called “food animal veterinarians.” These doctors are at the frontline in the battle against zoonotic diseases that threaten both animal and human health. However, the harsh reality of being entangled in an industry that prioritizes profits over all else is contributing to a growing trend: a decline in veterinary specialists willing to devote their lives to treating animals who are viewed as commodities.

Where Did All the Veterinarians Go?

A report by Clinton Neill of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine showed that thousands of veterinary students graduate each year, but only a small percentage, about 3-4%, of those students choose to focus their practice on animals raised for food.

This demographic is less than the current 5% of veterinarians who treat these animals, indicating that the number of large animal veterinarians will continue to decrease as older veterinarians retire. In addition, many of these vets leave the profession earlier due to burnout from the complex, grim, and sometimes dangerous work.

Many factors contribute to the steady decline of veterinarians who care for large, farmed animals. Veterinarians who treat pets instead have a much higher earning potential than large animal vets. Many graduating vets are not familiar with large animals and their care. The prohibitive cost of education also influences the choices of those considering a career in the veterinary field.

Veterinary training is like medical school regarding the time and cost required to complete the program. Both require four years of higher education after completing an undergraduate degree. Many veterinary students leave university with over $200,000 in student loan debt, and yearly salaries for vets are about half of what a human physician might earn.

America’s Systematic Failing Food System

The critical shortage of veterinarians for animals raised for food brings to light the systemic failings of a food system built on exploitation. Our planet has an urgent need for a shift towards plant-based agriculture. We can use the vast resources dedicated to raising animals for consumption and redirect them towards sustainable, cruelty-free farming practices.

Farmed Animals Pay the Price

The distressing state of animal welfare in current farming practices, where sentient beings endure unimaginable suffering from birth until their premature deaths, calls for immediate action. The routine mutilations, overcrowded living conditions, and lack of fundamental freedoms are stark reminders of the actual cost of animal products.

Stephanie Mercier, senior policy advisor at the Farm Journal Foundation, points out the dangers of a vet shortage. “If a farmer has to wait several hours for a vet to be able to show up and look at an animal, it raises the risk that not only will that animal get sicker and die, but also potentially infect the rest of the population.” This lack of care adds even more sickness and suffering to the already shortened lives of animals exploited for food.

Go Vegan to Save Farmed Animals

The proposed “Rural Veterinary Workforce Act” incentivizes veterinarians to serve in areas with a shortage of veterinarians. However, actual progress lies in addressing the root cause of the veterinarian shortage and animal suffering: the continued exploitation of animals for food. By transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, we can alleviate the demand on veterinarians stretched thin by the demands of animal agriculture, pave the way for a more compassionate and sustainable food system, and end the cycle of suffering for millions of animals.

As animal rights advocates and vegans, we envision a future where every living being is respected and free from harm. The current shortage of large animal veterinarians highlights the cracks in our food system while serving as a call to action for us to reconsider our daily choices and their impact on humanity, animals, and the planet. Together, we can forge a path towards a kinder, more equitable world, one meal at a time.