State/Territory
Colorado
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Laramie County, WY; Weld County, CO; Kimball, Banner, Cheyenne Counties, NE
Location Center
Pine Bluffs, WY
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
(minimum 50% of time)
Beef Cattle
Small Ruminant
Nominator Name
Hallie Hasel
Nominator Title
Wyoming State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Wyoming Livestock Board
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
307-840-1389
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
Laramie County lies at Wyoming’s southeast corner. The county area borders Colorado’s Weld County to the south and Nebraska’s Kimball, Banner, and Cheyenne Counties to the east. The combined service area in all counties totals 9,599 sq. miles. There is strong demand for large animal veterinarians in this area to partner with local producers and the joint state livestock industry. In combination, the counties include 6,774 farms, 90% of which are beef cattle, with 10% sheep. Greater than two-thirds of agriculture sales in these counties come from food animals. The need for a food animal veterinarian in this area is tremendous. Information and services provided by a veterinarian will improve herd health, reproductive efficiency, and nutritional management - contributing to producer profitability and overall economic growth in an area heavily reliant on animal agriculture. The availability of a large animal practitioner to properly educate producers concerning biosecurity, disease control, herd health programs, animal welfare, and veterinary products will minimize possible devastating adverse events for local operations and the tri-state livestock industry. Additionally, an accredited large animal practitioner in this area will be an intermediary for regulatory officials and producers - communicating and endorsing state and federal animal health regulations, disease programs, animal welfare, and interstate livestock movement.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
The counties in this three-state region have great opportunities for outstanding veterinary entrepreneurship. Potential exists for herd health planning and consultation, production management, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination. Species include primarily beef cattle and small ruminants. Operations vary tremendously in size, ranging from 2000-head cattle herds and sheep flocks to backyard livestock enterprises. Spring is busy with obstetrical work, although over time the “calving season” has lengthened, going from mid-January to mid-June. Other work potential includes pregnancy checks, brucellosis vaccinations, and regulatory work such as performing health checks for interstate travel across the busy rodeo season. Food animal surgeries include c-sections, urethrotomies/-ostomies, eye enucleations, claw removal, castration, dehorning, abscess treatment, trauma treatment, and lumpectomies. A strong desire exists within the communities for veterinary mentorship regarding livestock management, outreach, and production. Additional mentorship opportunities include livestock events, including county fairs, rodeos, 4-H and FFA. Interaction with state and federal veterinarians occurs regularly. Producer outreach in conjunction with extension occurs on a regular basis. Finally, the veterinarian will maintain their federal accreditation, allowing them to perform surveillance and diagnostic testing for state and federal programs and endorse livestock for interstate shipment.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
Veterinary clinics in the area have pursued multiple attempts to recruit veterinarians in recent years due to retirements. Recruiting veterinarians is difficult due to increased debt and a smaller pool of interested candidates. Wyoming does not currently have a state-funded student loan repayment program. Competing with states with a loan repayment program is challenging, thus Wyoming’s need for VMLRP. Because of our low population, the number of “home-grown” candidates tends to be small. Local veterinary clinics offer competitive salaries and other benefits to compete in the mixed practice market. The loan repayment incentive is a substantive motivation Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado can utilize to attract veterinarians to their states.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado must address this veterinary shortage to ensure a safe food supply, specifically for beef cattle coming out of these counties. In-person veterinary care is needed to mitigate increased risk to public health threats such as emerging diseases and drug residue exposure. Wyoming's #3 business is agriculture, and Laramie County is representative of Wyoming’s ranch culture. Further, family farm agriculture is the lifeblood of western Nebraska; the three counties generate $343M in annual market value of products. Likewise, agriculture drives Colorado. Agriculture in Colorado contributes $9 billion in sales annually to its economy. Weld County has the highest acreage in ranches in Colorado. Producers need continual veterinary care, advice on preventive medicine, and production management recommendations for their animals. We continue to lose more food animal veterinarians annually than we are able to hire. Without access to veterinarians, our producers are unable to test their cattle in a timely manner, resulting in economic loss. Food animal veterinarians are needed for continually increasing regulations regarding veterinary feed directives and antibiotic usage, along with the continued demand for organic, grass-fed beef and niche marketing, difficult with the harsh winters we receive. Increasing interaction between livestock and wildlife due to changing land use continues to present challenges for Wyoming producers. Food animal veterinarians are ideally poised to offer education and outreach, along with specifically designed herd health plans, to keep our producers economically viable. Food animal veterinary medical professionals are an integral component of livestock industries. Without them, producers, local communities, and the people of Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado suffer economically and are subject to increased risk of disease incidents.
Community Aspects
The attractions for a new veterinarian to move to this geographic area are numerous. The approximate geographic center of the area is the town of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Pine Bluffs is a small town with a tight-knit, supportive community that boasts a great school system focusing on quality education and opportunities. Local attractions portray an area rich in history, where one can immerse themselves in Native American history at the Pine Bluffs Archaeology Site or cattle drive history at the Old Texas Trail Monument. Nearby Hawk Springs Reservoir provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water activities. Just a short drive away is the Colorado Front Range, offering a diverse collection of activities to interest any individual whether it be outdoor adventures or leisure dining and entertainment. Neighboring Nebraska offers outstanding bird watching, especially during migration seasons, as well as several golf courses for one to enjoy a round of golf in the open, serene environment. The Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area, just west of Kimball, Nebraska, offers water sports, fishing, camping, and hiking trails. Finally, Weld County, Colorado features the annual Greeley Stampede, one of the top summer events in Colorado, featuring a large rodeo, concerts by national music acts, a carnival, and parade. Other nearby attractions include the 21-mile Poudre River trail, perfect for biking, walking, and running, and several breweries that offer tours and tastings. Exploring further offers access to majestic Yellowstone National Park, towering Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, blue ribbon wild trout rivers, national-best elk and antelope hunting, and premier dining and western experience events from Denver to Jackson Hole.
Page last updated: February 6, 2025