Now that budget cuts are affecting less popular University concentrations, many are worried students will be further dissuaded from pursuing a large animal career.
With less than 6 percent of veterinary students graduating in large animal practice — including horses and livestock — this may be the next department affected by cuts.
Fewer students are choosing to work with large animals, but the demand for large animal practitioners has remained consistent within the state, said Joseph Taboada, associate dean for student and academic affairs at the School of Veterinary Medicine.
A number of vacant faculty positions still have not been filled and will most likely not be filled now that budget cuts are in full swing, Taboada said. Fewer veterinarians with large animal expertise are available to serve as role models for students.
The pressure to preserve the small animal experience will be greater because there are more jobs available in this area, Taboada said.
Though the large animal practice is smaller than other areas, its existence within the state is essential, and the deficit of large animal practitioners in the state is becoming a serious problem, Taboada said.
In a November 2009 survey given to University veterinary students at their entrance into the school, almost half said they wanted to work with small animals, Taboada said.
Around 33 percent said they wanted to work with large animals or a mixed animal practice.
Once new students started taking classes, they began to show more interest in working with large animals, and the number of students in the area grew. However, once students became seniors, the percentage of students in the large animal area decreased drastically to 6 percent, Taboada said.
“Once students reach their fourth year, they’re hit with the reality of the current job market,” Taboada said.
Jobs working with larger animals do not pay as well as those with pets, Taboada said, and many students are faced with loan burdens to pay off after graduation.
The state offers loan repayment incentives to increase practicing in these “large animal veterinarian deficient” areas, said Patrick Cutbirth, fourth-year veterinary student.
“Generally, there is only one large animal veterinarian in an area, and so you are heavily relied on,” Cutbirth said. “You are often faced with having to take emergency calls at all times and perform difficult procedures in less than ideal conditions with little or no help.”
To combat negative job qualities, and gain experience in both fields, some students work with both large and small animals.
Cutbirth said he plans to practice mixed animal medicine
following graduation.
“Ideally, my practice will consist of 50 percent livestock and horses and 50 percent small animals,” Cutbirth said. “Although my family doesn’t own cattle, I was able to be around livestock growing up.”
Cutbirth said there has been a steady decline of animal-based agriculture around his Louisiana hometown within the last 10 years. Few places can support large animal
veterinarians, Cutbirth said.
“Practicing mixed animal medicine would allow me to help producers, hobby farmers and local 4-H groups while also allowing me to pursue my love for small animal medicine,” Cutbirth said.
 
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]