We have known about, and the Veterinary medicine, has known about, the shortage of food or large animal vets for over 20 years.
And we have known why: fewer males are graduating from university with a 4 year degree. The vast majority of female vets go into small animal medicine, cats and dogs.
Last week we heard an interview on public radio with the head of the Wisconsin Vet Med association, Dr. Larry Darkow of Appleton, Wisconsin. The updated news:
1. Some 88% of vet med students are female now. Males are disappearing.
2.There is now a shortage not only of food animal vets, but in rural areas there is an added shortage of small animal, cat and dog, vets.
3.There is now a recognition by the vet medicine field that female vets do not prefer to practice in rural areas.
Unfortunately, the vet medicine field has not yet discovered why we have both those shortages. No boys. See the story here at
https://www.wpr.org/news/rural-wisconsin-counties-critical-shortage-veterinary-care-farm-animals-pets