America's Growing Crisis: The Worsening Shortage of Large-Animal Veterinarians

A severe shortage of large-animal veterinarians is threatening the health of livestock and the future of agriculture in rural America. According to a 2023 Johns Hopkins study, the United States has lost 90 percent of its large-animal and livestock veterinarians since the end of World War II. As the crisis deepens, farmers and ranchers in rural areas are left struggling to find veterinary care, with some regions lacking access to a veterinarian for miles.