State/Territory
Kansas
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Barton, Edwards, Pawnee, Rice, Stafford
Location Center
Larned, Kansas 67550
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
Critical
Fiscal year
Percent FTE
(Full Time Equivalent, based on a 40hr work week.)
30
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type II Shortage: Private Practice – Rural Area Food Animal Medicine
Must serve
Beef Cattle
May serve
Dairy Cattle
Swine
Poultry
Small Ruminant
Other May Serve
Equine, Cervid, Upland Gamebirds
Nominator Name
Justin Smith, DVM
Nominator Title
Animal Health Commissioner
Nominator Org
KS Dept of Ag Division of Animal Health
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
785-564-6613
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
This shortage situation spans five counties, which cover 3789 square miles in Central Kansas. According to the data on the NASS website, in 2023, there were approximately 389,000 head of cattle in this shortage area. Currently, there are 22 Category II veterinarians in the shortage area listed in the USDA-APHIS database. Fourteen of the Category II veterinarians provide food animal services. This results in a ratio of cattle to veterinarians in the shortage area of 27,786:1. This ratio is concerning considering the impact a high consequence or foreign animal disease could have on the region if not immediately identified and reported by an attending veterinarian. This area includes one EIA lab, Kansas inspected and/or custom slaughter and processing facilities, five Cal-Maine breeder locations, multiple cervid herds, numerous small ruminant producers, multiple commercial swine finishing operations and private and commercial feedlots. Producer relationships are essential for effective communication and action regarding any animal health concerns, which ultimately ensures a safe and wholesome product is marketed to the consumer. Veterinary involvement ensures current recommendations for prevention and treatment of disease, safe food production, and recognition and prompt reporting of disease outbreaks.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
With 373,000 head of cattle in this shortage area, there is a significant opportunity to work with feedlots of varied size, cow/calf producers - both seedstock and commercial, and smaller operations. Commercial swine producers, small ruminants producers and poultry will provide diversity to the work. Established cattle herds and the seasonal influx of grazing cattle moving interstate into this area make veterinary oversight and surveillance of food animal disease and movement vital to Kansas agriculture. Professional services may include activities include breeding soundness exams, pregnancy examinations, calf vaccination/dehorning/castration, dystocia assistance, establishing preventative programs, individual animal treatment, and examinations for interstate movement. The awardee must be Trichomoniasis certified and APHIS Category II Accredited. Issuing Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and performing other regulatory procedures such as writing VFDs would be a requirement of this position. This individual will provide field surveillance for potential FAD incursions in this area. Loan repayment incentives will reduce the pressure to be sustainable in food animal practice and aid in long-term veterinary establishment in this shortage area. This area contains five separate 4-H county offices and portions of four 4-H Districts. This provides an opportunity for outreach to youth.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
It is difficult to hire and retain veterinarians in rural food animal practice. New graduates elect small animal practice where work is more scheduled, pay is higher, and after-hour emergencies are referred to an emergency clinic. Additional factors include fewer veterinary graduates having a traditional farm background and minimal exposure to the food animal industry. It is critical to recruit and retain veterinary practitioners in this area as several veterinarians have retired recently. Several veterinarians have been recruited and are practicing in this area. Retention of these individuals in this practice area is important. It is challenging to retain new associates when they may be offered positions in industry or less rural areas for $10,000 to $25,000 more per year. The multitude of outdoor recreational activities and individuals filling these positions who have family ties to the area increase the likelihood of retention.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
The number of operations this area encompasses and farm to farm travel time that service requires in this area is substantial. It is imperative to have a knowledgeable veterinary population to detect disease incursions promptly. Reportable and program disease surveillance are important due to the livestock species in this area, international travel, and the threat of disease establishment in the wildlife population such as African Swine Fever or Foot and Mouth Disease. As agriculture is a primary industry, a more sustainable veterinary practice serves as a cornerstone for the viability of the local producers. Veterinary involvement ensures current recommendations for prevention and treatment of disease, safe food production, and recognition and reporting of disease outbreaks. If this area cannot recruit or retain veterinarians, public health may be threatened. Although companion animal practice cannot be used in fulfillment of VMLRP requirements, Kansas recognizes these professional activities play a role in BOTH overall public health AND viability of the practice. Due to the above reasons, we believe this shortage area should be rated as a high priority.
Community Aspects
This shortage area offers an abundance of outdoor recreational activities including wildlife viewing, photography, boating, hunting, fishing, biking, and hiking. Quivera National Wildlife Refuge is in the Central flyway for migratory waterfowl. It is 22,135 acres of rare inland salt marsh and sand prairie. Many opportunities exist to explore this oasis of the Great Plains. Cheyenne Bottoms is open year-round to vehicles and individuals. It consists of over 17,000 acres that provide options from driving to hunting to bird watching and include a wheelchair accessible pathway. It will entertain an individual or family. Ellinwood, Kansas was built in the 1870's as a 2-story town, which was common in Germany at the time with the first story being underground. The underground stores supported travel on the Santa Fe Trail. They will entertain a couple or family. There are also area golf courses, small-town festivals, and county fairs. Several PRCA sanctioned rodeos occur each year. There are MBHA barrel racing competitions, jack pot ropings, and horse shows for the equine minded individuals. For families there are numerous school and inter-mural athletic competition occur frequently. As in many small towns, there are numerous community organizations to share your talents as a volunteer.