State/Territory
California
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Monterey and San Benito
Shortage Location - May Serve
Santa Cruz
Location Center
King City, CA
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
High
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
(minimum 50% of time)
Beef Cattle
Small Ruminant
Carry Over
Yes, #1
Nominator Name
Dr. Annette Jones
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
CDFA, AHFSS
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
(916) 900-5000
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
Addressing the large animal veterinary shortage in Monterey and San Benito Counties is essential to maintaining a safe and secure food supply in California. This region is a high-density animal agricultural area where producers have steadily seen veterinarians retire and that currently lacks replacement clinicians.
The veterinarian who will fill this shortage area will provide services to the area's robust beef cattle industry with an estimated 74,500 cattle located across two ‘must-serve’ counties spanning over 4,600 square miles. There are approximately 6,600 small ruminants in the two-county area. Providing veterinary care to small ruminants in the region will also constitute a portion of the work.
The practitioner serving this area will play a vital role in antimicrobial stewardship by providing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and oversight for judicious use of medically important antibiotics. In this semi-rural area, educational outreach explaining regulations associated with drug withdrawal times to smaller livestock and
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
The veterinarian would primarily serve cattle and small ruminants, performing typical duties of a food animal practitioner, including but not limited to: pregnancy diagnosis, obstetrical difficulties, foreign animal disease surveillance, semen evaluation, trichomoniasis testing, and overall herd health practices (vaccination, castration, and regulatory testing requirements).
The veterinarian should also make routine herd visits to monitor the usage of antibiotics and other prescription medications and advise clients on management of anaplasmosis and foothill abortion. Activities may include emergency services, development of treatment and vaccination protocols, and biosecurity assessment.
A minimum of 50% service time must be dedicated to beef cattle and small ruminants, the must-serve species. The rest of the veterinarian’s service time can be allocated to agriculturally relevant livestock. The veterinarian may also provide care and outreach to small hobby farms or youth agriculture groups such as 4-H and FFA. These operations often require educational farm visits and rely on veterinarians teaching safe and sustainable practices to maintain good health and welfare standards. The veterinarian may also assist with emergency veterinary needs during wildfire responses or other natural disasters, work at sale barns, teach quality assurance programs, establish California Secure Food Supply plans, or work for local fairs, petting zoos, or rodeos.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
There are three veterinarians serving primarily livestock across the tri-county area, spanning 5,768 square miles. One veterinarian is currently nearing retirement age. There are strong opportunities for developing a profitable livestock-based practice, should a veterinarian move to the area.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
Maintaining adequate animal health vigilance in this area is important to the entire state. There is a need for continued veterinary services here to detect emerging diseases, maintain the continuity of veterinary care as current vets retire, and protect food safety. In the past year, the local saleyard has had to reduce services on certain days due to a lack of large animal veterinary expertise within the area.
The Monterey and San Benito area acts as a wildlife corridor for animals such as tule elk, deer, and wild hogs. The interface of wildlife and livestock can result in disease transmission and requires oversight from a veterinarian for early detection of possible emerging diseases or foreign animal diseases (FADs). Without adequate and accessible veterinary care, farmers who are not trained in FAD recognition and biosecurity practices may inadvertently create disease reservoirs or allow for diseases to spread throughout the county, state, or region.
Community Aspects
This beautiful geographic region of California contains vital urban and rural areas, including historic cattle ranches. It is the home of the iconic Salinas Rodeo. Bordering the Pacific Ocean, an amazing work-life balance is virtually assured. Fabulous coastal wine regions, world class golf such as Pebble Beach, and historic towns such as Carmel can be found throughout the region. These counties boast of scenic hiking in areas such as the iconic Pinnacles National Park to the south, as well as ocean-based activities that include surfing and whale watching. Ideal for foodies, this area has abundant fresh produce and iconic wineries.
Page last updated: February 6, 2025