House ag committee approves Smith’s veterinarian shortage bill

When it comes to cattle, Nebraska is a leader among states with the second highest number of cattle (6.25 million head) and the nation’s leading cattle slaughter (6.72 million head) in 2009. Cash receipts for cattle in Nebraska last year was more than $7 billion.

But like the growing shortage of health care providers in Nebraska’s rural counties, the number of veterinary medicine providers is also low, considering the number of cattle in the state.

For example, in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cherry County had one food animal veterinarian per 145,781 animals. Nebraska’s leading cow/calf county, Cumings, had one food animal veterinarian per 69,855 animals. Both Cherry and Cumings counties are among the nation’s largest cow/calf producers. Also among the nation’s top cow/calf producing counties is Custer County, which fares a little better, with one food animal veterinarian for every 38,382 animals.

Legislation to address the veterinary shortages in rural communities, introduced by Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., passed the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday Read More…