Rural Veterinary Care Shortages Impact Households
Owners of livestock should confirm emergency protocols as veterinary shortages continue to affect over 500 U.S. counties.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Veterinary Medicine
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Zoetis has launched the third season of its video series, Born of the Bond, to spotlight critical shortages in rural large-animal veterinary care. The series examines how clinics are adapting to service gaps that currently affect more than 500 U.S. counties.
Why it matters
The scarcity of rural veterinarians creates significant logistical challenges for families managing livestock, often due to the difficulty of maintaining 24/7 emergency availability. These shortages impact the accessibility of essential animal care across 46 states.
Training initiatives like the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas show high success, with 95% of graduates completing their rural practice commitments. Currently, 86% of those graduates continue to serve in qualifying, underserved counties.
The players
Zoetis
A global animal health company that manufactures vaccines and medicines for livestock and pets while supporting veterinary workforce development.
Stillwater Veterinary Clinic
A rural veterinary practice in Absarokee, Montana, that is currently expanding its staff to address regional large-animal care needs.
National FFA Organization
A national youth organization dedicated to agricultural education and leadership development, which has received funding from Zoetis since 2023.
Folds of Honor
A non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled military members and first responders.
The details
Rural veterinary clinics are combatting staff shortages by utilizing job shadowing, internships, and mentoring to attract new veterinarians. Programs such as loan repayment are also instrumental in recruiting and retaining associates to handle demanding, on-call emergency schedules. The Stillwater Veterinary Clinic in Absarokee, Montana, represents this approach by recruiting new associates to help meet local service demand.
Timeline
Zoetis began its bovine veterinary scholarship program in 2009.
Donations to Folds of Honor and the National FFA Organization began in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Large-animal veterinary shortages were tracked across 46 states in 2025.
The live premiere of Born of the Bond occurred on October 29, 2026.
The Home Front
The current shortage of large-animal veterinarians follows a documented trend of reduced access to essential agricultural services in rural areas. This scarcity highlights the growing reliance on targeted training programs and financial incentives to sustain veterinary infrastructure.
Livestock owners in rural areas should proactively identify a primary large-animal veterinarian before an emergency occurs. Families should also discuss emergency protocols with their local clinic to understand their coverage capacity and on-call availability.
The takeaway
The rural veterinary shortage is primarily driven by the challenge of balancing professional practice with the demands of 24/7 on-call emergency services. If you live in an agricultural community, consider contacting your local clinic today to verify their emergency call-out procedures.
Further reading
For more information on the current landscape of animal health, explore Veterinary Medicine.
More information
To see the full video series, view series episodes on the official program website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by National Hog Farmer.
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