Kentucky agriculture officials are working to address a shortage of veterinarians who work on large animals like cows, horses and sheep.
According to officials with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, there are nearly 1,700 veterinarians in the commonwealth. Only 54 of those are dedicated full time to large animal practice. Officials add that only three percent of large animal vets work in rural areas.
Those who have been following the trend said long hours, travel costs and high student debt often lead people into companion animal care.
There are some federal and state programs in place to address the shortage, but officials said more needs to be done. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is meeting with industry partners next month to talk about possible solutions.
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