By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

LAPEL, Ind. — The low numbers of veterinary students going into food-animal medicine has leaders in the industry worried about the future health of farm animals and the American food supply.
“It’s very serious. Far more (veterinary) graduates are going into other fields, and 50 percent of those now practicing are 50 years old or older,” said David Kirkpatrick, spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Assoc.

Those who seek retirement are, consequently, finding it difficult to find people to take over their job and purchase their practice, Kirkpatrick said.

Recent graduates are overwhelmingly going into companion animal (pet) veterinary medicine, probably due to better hours and work conditions, he said.

As a former large-animal vet, Vicki Hagerman, 51, works at her companion-animal practice at the Lapel Animal Clinic with no regrets. “I don’t miss all those days laying in the mud to pull pigs with it 20 degrees below 0. My hands would be so numb, I’d have to drive with my elbows,” Hagerman said.

A vet for 26 years, Hagerman gave up that part of her practice when she became a mom because the evening and weekend calls interfered with family life. She also cited the long hours and amount of travel. Driving 70 miles to a dairy farm would not be unusual for a vet, especially in areas where vets are scarce, Kirkpatrick said.

In addition to all these factors, Kirkpatrick thinks the dwindling numbers of children growing up on farms or rural settings could be impacting the field. “There’s a complete disconnect with the farm,” he said. “They’re not involved with that type of living. It’s important for rural and farm communities to encourage their youth to go into the field.”

The good news is that starting salaries are high for both branches of veterinary medicine. The 2010 graduates could expect to make on average $68,900 for food animals; $71,400 for companion animals, said Kirkpatrick, citing a study.

Also, with growing attention to the shortage, companies, organizations and schools are providing large education grants for students who will agree to serve food animals or in shortage areas.
Considering the debt load that these students often carry, these incentives should help. The AVMA estimates the average debt per veterinary graduate to be about $133,000. Students must get a bachelor’s degree, enter a four-year veterinary program and pass boards.

The AVMA is offering $100,000 in veterinary school grants to five recipients and is working to support and write legislation that would provide federal funding for rural and food animal veterinary students, Kirkpatrick said.

Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine offers vet camps for middle and high school students. Scholarships are available for the popular June camp. Dean Willie Reed said the camp receives 200 applications each year for 50 spots.

“We have examples of urban children who have been exposed to large animals and have discovered a passion for them and have done quite well,” Reed said.

Some states provide loan forgiveness to graduates who agree to work a number of years in underserved areas, Reed said. Indiana at this time does not have that program. Pfizer Animal Health announ-ced its own program, which is taking applicants until Nov. 15. Their website - vetstudentconnect.com - offers details.

AVMA is a not-for-profit organization that represents veterinarians from all fields. Visit avma.org/fsvm/default.asp for more information on food supply veterinary medicine.