You often hear about the shortage of food animal veterinarians, particularly in remote locations. In the sheep and goat business, most of the small producers experience it regardless of location. On the sheep side, 95% of the producer’s flocks are 100 ewes or less and that statistic I suspect is higher yet on the goat side. These numbers make it difficult for many veterinarians to justify the time it takes to practice sheep and goat medicine and there is very little economic return. This also limits the availability of biologics and pharmaceuticals necessary to provide health and welfare for our animals. What is the answer? I don’t know that there is one. Our answer to the situation is provide as much information and detail as we can via phone or social media. We are the answer people. We have also designed products specifically for sheep and goats. That is our niche business.
The Bovine area is starting to feel the shortage as well. Doctor, come save my cow doesn’t work very well anymore. For years, I would listen to older veterinarians complain about the profession and state if they had to do it over they wouldn’t do it again. I am not in that camp and never have been. I am satisfied with the opportunities presented to me to contribute to society and the well-being of animals. Unfortunately, I have difficulty today recommending to a young person that he or she should pursue veterinary medicine as a career. I say that with sorrow in my heart.
Today, veterinarians are graduating with 150,000 to 200,000 dollars in debt load and if they are lucky offered a 70,000 dollar job. Not much of an award for eight years of schooling and have been selected from an elite group of students for admission.
We want to thank all the sheep & goat producers that have signed up for our Pipestone Shepherd’s Club. We’ve reached over 430 members and counting! We’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the educational materials and especially the webinars throughout the year. We’re happy to provide this information to sheep and goat producers across the nation.
