Why is there such a need for food animal vets?

[dvmcatdog]

It seems many schools are doing things to incentivize students to try and go into food animal medicine, some schools will even give you financial aid if you go into food animal med and then committing a few years to a rural area to practice. Is the shortage that huge? I'm just so curious why so few students want to go into that part of vet med!

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[genny]

Long hours, hard physical labor, crappy pay.

 

[JaynaAli]

Because the pay is usually way worse than small animal (like possibly even half the pay...my friend in rural mixed makes less than 60,000/yr and my friends in larger cities get 100,000 or more in small animal), you’re usually expected to be on call even after you put in a full day of work, positions are often in small towns which can have limited opportunities for spouses and children, the work is more physically demanding than other areas of vet med, your clients often don’t truly value what you do and would rather try to handle it themselves and order meds from Valley Vet or wherever rather than have you come out until it’s an absolute train wreck, etc. You have to love it for it to be “worth it” and more and more people are deciding it’s not worth it. Also some of the “shortage” is that the areas simply can’t or won’t support a vet financially despite some people needing the vet care.

 

[dvmcatdog]

Because the pay is usually way worse than small animal (like possibly even half the pay...my friend in rural mixed makes less than 60,000/yr and my friends in larger cities get 100,000 or more in small animal), you’re usually expected to be on call even after you put in a full day of work, positions are often in small towns which can have limited opportunities for spouses and children, the work is more physically demanding than other areas of vet med, your clients often don’t truly value what you do and would rather try to handle it themselves and order meds from Valley Vet or wherever rather than have you come out until it’s an absolute train wreck, etc. You have to love it for it to be “worth it” and more and more people are deciding it’s not worth it. Also some of the “shortage” is that the areas simply can’t or won’t support a vet financially despite some people needing the vet care.

So will schools pick someone with a lesser application because of their desire and passion to go into food animal vs someone with slightly better stats that has the same desire and passion for small animal med?

 

[Minnerbelle]

So will schools pick someone with a lesser application because of their desire and passion to go into food animal vs someone with slightly better stats that has the same desire and passion for small animal med?

I mean, if that desire and passion was based on lived experience, possibly.

if you’re a rando city/suburban kid who shadowed a mixed animal vet one day and you claimed passion for food animals... I think that would put you even lower in the pile than you already would have been.

 

[Mythical]

So will schools pick someone with a lesser application because of their desire and passion to go into food animal vs someone with slightly better stats that has the same desire and passion for small animal med?

If you put down on your application that you want to go into food animal, you’ll want to make sure you have the hours/experience to back it up. Admissions committees are probably wise to applicants who try to game the system. I’m not saying that’s what you’re doing, but just be sure that you have legit food animal credentials before declaring it as your specialty.

 

[DVMDream]

Yeah, there is now a large need for all vets because the field is doing this...

And the vet owners/corporates are going I don't understand where are the vets going???

While all the vets have literally explained exactly what the heck is wrong with the profession and how to fix it...

And the corporates/vet field industry peeps in charge just go I KNOW.!!!!

And the vets go....

 

[dvmcatdog]

If you put down on your application that you want to go into food animal, you’ll want to make sure you have the hours/experience to back it up. Admissions committees are probably wise to applicants who try to game the system. I’m not saying that’s what you’re doing, but just be sure that you have legit food animal credentials before declaring it as your specialty.

I couldn't imagine someone doing that honestly but I guess I always try to think the best of people. I've done a few large animal internships and unfortunately one got canceled because of covid but I have another coming up in the fall! I just worry since some of it isn't directly under a DVM but within the animal science department at my school.

 

[battie]

Yeah, there is now a large need for all vets because the field is doing this...

And the vet owners/corporates are going I don't understand where are the vets going???

While all the vets have literally explained exactly what the heck is wrong with the profession and how to fix it...

And the corporates/vet field industry peeps in charge just go I KNOW.!!!!

And the vets go....

View attachment 335678

Your best post. Of all ****ing time.

 

[SpiderPony]

I couldn't imagine someone doing that honestly but I guess I always try to think the best of people. I've done a few large animal internships and unfortunately one got canceled because of covid but I have another coming up in the fall! I just worry since some of it isn't directly under a DVM but within the animal science department at my school.

People definitely absolutely 100% do that.

Ditto for research/academia


I also know a poultry science grad leaning on their background to get in, and they’re planning to go into small animal. So I guess it goes both ways?

 

[PetVet23]

Yeah, there is now a large need for all vets because the field is doing this...

And the vet owners/corporates are going I don't understand where are the vets going???

While all the vets have literally explained exactly what the heck is wrong with the profession and how to fix it...

And the corporates/vet field industry peeps in charge just go I KNOW.!!!!

And the vets go....

View attachment 335678

I don't really have anything to add, just wanted to say this is the most beautiful post I've ever seen

 

[WildZoo]

I mean, if that desire and passion was based on lived experience, possibly.

if you’re a rando city/suburban kid who shadowed a mixed animal vet one day and you claimed passion for food animals... I think that would put you even lower in the pile than you already would have been.

Can confirm stuff like this gets major side-eye from adcoms/interviewers

 

[PippyPony]

The side-eye doesn't continue after school begins though! I have multiple classmates who had basically never touched a cow before vet school and they're going into large animal ambulatory or rural mixed practice. They realize it's lower pay but they just love it and can financially afford to do it.

 

[PippyPony]

I just worry since some of it isn't directly under a DVM but within the animal science department at my school.

You didn't ask this, but I would count that as animal experience in VMCAS, not veterinary experience. But it totally counts as large animal experience 🙂

 

[SnowJ]

If you put down on your application that you want to go into food animal, you’ll want to make sure you have the hours/experience to back it up. Admissions committees are probably wise to applicants who try to game the system. I’m not saying that’s what you’re doing, but just be sure that you have legit food animal credentials before declaring it as your specialty.

I had people tell me I should try for the UMN's accelerated undergrad/early admissions program so I could start earlier, despite my having absolutely no interest in LA or public health medicine. I refused because that's super scummy, and the program exists for those interests for a reason. Plus I wouldnt have taken the time to learn about elective topics that I was really passionate about, and probably would have just hated undergrad.

 

[supershorty]

Can confirm stuff like this gets major side-eye from adcoms/interviewers

Second this.

 

[dvmcatdog]

Well the side eye makes sense honestly, I couldn't fully say I had a passion for food animal medicine until I was actually in it touching cows, pigs, etc. even if I thought it might be a good fit before getting that experience. Just doesn't make sense to not have at least some experience. I just wanted to know why so many students seemed so against going into it but I guess most people do want small animal or equine!

 

[battie]

Well the side eye makes sense honestly, I couldn't fully say I had a passion for food animal medicine until I was actually in it touching cows, pigs, etc. even if I thought it might be a good fit before getting that experience. Just doesn't make sense to not have at least some experience. I just wanted to know why so many students seemed so against going into it but I guess most people do want small animal or equine!

I heavily considered rural mixed animal. But the combination of my fiances wishes and OOS debt, it wasn't financially feasible. I think the debt and being able to pay for it is a decent factor into people not entering the profession.

Equine actually has actually only ~2% of graduates entering that segment of the industry for many of the same reasons.

 

[JaynaAli]

Well the side eye makes sense honestly, I couldn't fully say I had a passion for food animal medicine until I was actually in it touching cows, pigs, etc. even if I thought it might be a good fit before getting that experience. Just doesn't make sense to not have at least some experience. I just wanted to know why so many students seemed so against going into it but I guess most people do want small animal or equine!

Strictly equine has even less people enter it than large animal. And has even worse pay than food animal if I remember right.

A fair number of people may enter vet school planning to go into rural mixed, food animal, equine, etc. (at least where I went to school) but a lot of time plans change over the four years you’re in vet school. I fully intended to do rural mixed when I started school. 100000% Was going to go back home and eventually open or takeover a practice. But I fell in love with clinical pathology instead and now I’m a specialist in a city. People often change their minds about what they want to do throughout school and that’s okay. Maybe they learn on call stresses them out so they decide to go into small animal. Maybe they just can’t make it work financially. Maybe they end up loving ophtho or derm. That’s why I think adcoms take what your stated interests are during an interview with a grain of salt. I’d say a good number of people who started wanting to do food animal kept those goals, but not everyone does. If you want to do food animal and your application was otherwise exactly the same as someone who wants to go into small animal might you have a marginal advantage? Maybe, but things are never exactly equivalent between two applicants. But admissions are probably not going to make huge concessions and lower their admissions standards just because you say you love cows. You still have to pass the rigorous vet school curriculum and pass NAVLE.

 

[Dana_May_B]

I do think there are some safeguards in place for people trying to get scholarships and acceptances by faking a food animal interest. I received a recruitment scholarship that was offered because of my interest in food animal medicine, but I had to sign a contract saying that the scholarship offer is contingent upon my continued interest in food animal medicine during the 4 years of vet school. So like if at any point during the next 4 years I change my mind and choose to stop focusing on food animals, I lose the scholarship. I don't think that means I can't take a wildlife elective or something for fun outside of poultry med, but like I would definitely lose the scholarship if I decided to be on the small animal track haha. Definitely had to think long and hard before accepting that offer to make sure this is really truly what I want to do! And I guess as far as why people don't want to do it, I've definitely received a ton of skepticism from family and friends for going down this path. Literally, one person said "so.... are people just going to bring their sick chickens to you? why won't you treat real pets like dogs and cats?" I don't think poultry medicine or even dairy/beef/swine medicine really jumps out at people as the first thing that comes to mind when they think of what a veterinarian looks like. And food animal medicine also comes with some challenging ethical conversations too- I remember breaking down sobbing after seeing a video of male culling in the laying industry.

 

[finnickthedog]

I received a recruitment scholarship that was offered because of my interest in food animal medicine, but I had to sign a contract saying that the scholarship offer is contingent upon my continued interest in food animal medicine during the 4 years of vet school. So like if at any point during the next 4 years I change my mind and choose to stop focusing on food animals, I lose the scholarship.

Do you have to pay the scholarship back if you change you mind, or is it just like an annual thing where they'll stop renewing it if your interests change?

What happens if you're interested in food animal all the way through 4th year but then at the end decide to go work in SA instead?

I'm just curious.

 

[Dana_May_B]

Do you have to pay the scholarship back if you change you mind, or is it just like an annual thing where they'll stop renewing it if your interests change?

What happens if you're interested in food animal all the way through 4th year but then at the end decide to go work in SA instead?

I'm just curious.

The wording of the contract just says the scholarship will not be renewed for the next semester if I do not "demonstrate continued interest in food animal medicine." So I don't think I'd have to pay back what they already gave me. If I changed my mind at the end of the 4th year, I mean I don't think there's anything they could do since they would have already given me the scholarship in full, but that would definitely be a weird scenario haha.

 

[PippyPony]

@Dana_May_B props for wanting to go into poultry med! I wish more people (including myself tbh) were interested in poultry & swine. You can make such a difference for those animals from a herd health standpoint, and it's obviously important for human health too.

 

[Dana_May_B]

@Dana_May_B props for wanting to go into poultry med! I wish more people (including myself tbh) were interested in poultry & swine. You can make such a difference for those animals from a herd health standpoint, and it's obviously important for human health too.

Aw thanks!!!! I definitely want to use my skills to better the birds' lives and make sure they are treated with the respect they deserve for providing billions and billions of pounds of crucial protein for us humans every year. Idk what made me fall in love with chickens but I just can't see myself not working with them for the rest of my life haha

 

[turnandburn]

I think another problem is that these jobs tend to be in rural areas, making it more difficult for a partner/spouse to find work.

 

[SpiderPony]

I just worry since some of it isn't directly under a DVM but within the animal science department at my school.

You may be able to break it up between experiences. I know for a research project I was on we had a vet doing lots of joint taps, muscle biopsies, etc. I was able to schedule being present for all of the procedures and accumulated a handful of hours with a vet.

Did a similar thing with a job - they knew I wanted to go to vet school so when a horse needed to be hauled in or vet was called out they let me do it. Got around 40 hours that way.

I was careful to explain exactly what it was on the applications and had a good relationship with our on call vets, so that if they were contacted what adcoms asked about would make sense.

Sometimes if you’re around long enough and people recognize you and like you opportunities present themselves. I’ve gotten time with people in zoo med, research, wildlife, and some niche areas of equine (which really helped me form realistic goals) just by showing up consistently and doing the work other people passed on. Most operations have someone they use, and having a client/colleague/friend vouch for you can be a great way in. Not to mention hands on experience helps you become more of an asset than a liability

 

[dvmcatdog]

I think another problem is that these jobs tend to be in rural areas, making it more difficult for a partner/spouse to find work.

This is the huge reason that although covid sucked my husband can now work from home permanently so we can move anywhere which was a concern for him before for very good reason.

 

[Lupin21]

The wear and tear on the body with hours expected is huge too. I worked rural before vet school and realized I could never make longevity and pay off loans/have quality of life already being in my thirties and having back troubles.

 

[alissa14]

Ugh I was naive the first time I applied to vet school and took the advice of a vet student who I encountered while shadowing who told me “put food animal medicine on your application and they’ll accept you.” I was naive and dumb enough to do it and got rejected without an interview. At least I wasn’t extreme and didn’t try to profess a true passion. I think I just had one line stating I had interest but didn’t know much about it and looked forward to exploring it. This year I made no mention of food animal medicine and talked about my actual interests and was accepted to two schools. Learned my lesson on that one

 

[Minnerbelle]

The wear and tear on the body with hours expected is huge too. I worked rural before vet school and realized I could never make longevity and pay off loans/have quality of life already being in my thirties and having back troubles.

Your body sure doesn’t stay young forever. it’s hard on your body. And as you get older, those potentially career ending near misses and thrilling moments where your life flashes in front of your eyes are more anxiety provoking rather than Adrenaline rushes that they tend to be when you’re young.

And your priorities also change, especially for those who want to be a part of their children’s growth. A lot of mixed animal/large animal jobs come with on call. I can tell you I.WILL.NEVER.WORK.ON.CALL. Just the psychological toll being on call alone is not worth it, with it without a family.

 

[turnandburn]

Your body sure doesn’t stay young forever. it’s hard on your body. And as you get older, those potentially career ending near misses and thrilling moments where your life flashes in front of your eyes are more anxiety provoking rather than Adrenaline rushes that they tend to be when you’re young.

And your priorities also change, especially for those who want to be a part of their children’s growth. A lot of mixed animal/large animal jobs come with on call. I can tell you I.WILL.NEVER.WORK.ON.CALL. Just the psychological toll being on call alone is not worth it, with it without a family.

This is spot on. The things that were important to me in my early 20s are certainly not the things that are important to me now.