Baxter Black, Cowboy Poet and Veterinarian, Discusses Shortage of Cow Docs

clipped from www.selahnews.com

Food animal veterinarian solution

The livestock industry and rural veterinarians are becoming resigned to the lack of newly graduated vet students interested in practicing food animal medicine. FACT: only 5 percent of DVMs graduating from U.S. vet schools in 2007 entered predominantly large animal practices.

This shortage is manifested by the difficulty of rural veterinarians to hire new graduates. It is also a problem for cattle farmers nationwide who run a small herd along with crops. These small farmers are the 80 percent who oversee 20 percent of the cattle.

Veterinary Social Network – VSN

Veterinarians have conversations that typically are unwelcome at the dinner table for most socially talented individuals. It is great for us to have a place where we can freely chat. It is a place where we can discuss the stuff that might be gross to others without worry. I tried My Space and Facebook and LinkedIn and I will keep those identities just like I will keep my non-veterinary family and friends. VSN is the place for veterinarians and veterinary students to gather in cyberspace. If you are a veterinarian, come be my friend at DVM.com!

Diane McClure DVM, PhD, DACLAM