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New grant program to help fill Nebraska’s large animal vet shortage

A new grant program is tackling the state’s shortage of large animal veterinarians.

“This program addresses the demand and extraordinary shortfall that we have.” 

Governor Jim Pillen says the state is anywhere from 10 to 12 veterinarians short and hopes The Nebraska Rural Veterinarian Grant Program can help recruit and retain top talent. “We’re really looking forward to finding individuals who love rural Nebraska. That’s where the livestock is, have a passion for it, have a belief in it and have a desire to commit a career in it.”

There is $2 million in grants available.  Pillen says the state will award up to 13 new graduates with $150,000 per veterinarian who accepts a job at a rural clinic. The graduates must do 80 percent of their work in food animal production and will receive the grant after 8 years of practice.  

Pillen tells Brownfield more students are coming from metropolitan areas instead of rural areas. “We get to 26 to 28 students in veterinary school every year and 26 to 27 are doing small animal medicine.”

Executive Director with the state’s dairy association Kris Bousquet says large animal veterinarians are critical to animal health, and “They’re really almost business partners when it comes to our production practices. Every single animal welfare protocol is reviewed by a veterinarian. Our dairy farmers are required to keep on file a veterinarian-client-patient relationship form to establish that relationship with their local veterinarian.”

The Nebraska Department of Labor will administer the grants, and Pillen says the funding has been secured through the state’s budget.