State/Territory
North Carolina
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Alexander (264 sq mi) and Wilkes (757 sq mi) Counties in NC
Shortage Location - May Serve
Alleghany (237 sq mi), Ashe (429 sq mi), Burke (514 sq mi) Caldwell (475 sq mi), Watauga (313 sq mi),
Location Center
Taylorsville, NC 28681
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
Beef Cattle
Small Ruminant
Other Must Serve
May serve
Dairy Cattle
Swine
Poultry
Other May Serve
Equine
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Michael P. Martin
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
NCDA&CS
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
(919)-218-5143
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
This seven county area (total of 2,989 sq mi) is very dense in livestock including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and small ruminants. There was approximately 99,600 head of cattle recorded in 2022 by USDA, NASS in this region and Wilkes county alone is in the top 5 counties for both beef and dairy. There are also an exceedingly high numbers of small ruminants (NASS data does not collect this data on a county level). Given the numbers of livestock, there is a legitimate need in these counties for veterinarians to provide services to the small cow/calf operators and small ruminant farms. Further, equine and specialty market swine and poultry operations are serviced in this area. There are veterinary clinics in the region that used to service food animals that recently stopped food animal services. The opportunity for loan repayment, if the counties are designated a veterinary shortage, will provide incentives for new or recent graduates create, join, and/or remain in practices in this area. It is not anticipated that all counties would be covered by the applicant, but that the applicant could serve multiple counties in this geographic region.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
This nomination will support an individual willing to locate within this rural area and provide mixed animal veterinary services. A new practice might be established in any of the counties or a veterinarian might be employed by existing practices within the area to expand large animal services. The individual could provide comprehensive services for all species, with at least 30% dedicated to food animal. As in most under-served areas, the ability to financially support a 100% food animal practice would be difficult, thus the Type II nomination. The activities of a dedicated mixed animal practitioner in this area would greatly assist the preservation and expansion of a vibrant and varied food animal industry in a relatively remote area of North Carolina. Expectations are that the recipient would not cover the entirety of the region, but could service the majority by providing routine health care, herd health evaluations, disease surveillance, and serve to be the front line for determining the risk of foreign animal diseases. Interactions and engagement with our NCDA&CS field staff/VMO's for determination of foreign animal diseases, sampling, and state communications would be essential. The activities could include service to 4H/FFA and county/state fairs to provide educational opportunities regarding food animal veterinary medicine.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
There are veterinary clinics in the region that used to service food animals that recently stopped food animal services. Other practices in this region are having difficulty hiring associate veterinarians, reducing further the amount of veterinary resources for the food animal populations in this region. The intent of this nomination is focused primarily on providing the opportunity for veterinarian to locate to the area and establish himself/herself within a small community as a professional resource and contributor to the agricultural and social infrastructure of the area.
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
As with many of these under-served areas, the lack of food animal veterinarians could have a negative impact on the state's and the nation's animal disease surveillance (hampering appropriate/timely disease response), on the food supply, and/or on public health preparedness. This area is no different than hundreds of similar areas throughout the country. The provision of food animal veterinary services is critical to foreign and endemic animal disease surveillance. It is also well documented that food supply veterinarians serve a key role in public health preparedness/response, as 75% of emerging human diseases are of animal origin and, in these small communities, veterinarians often serve on local public health boards and commissions. The lack of food supply veterinarian availability directly impacts animal welfare, as many producers resort to providing veterinary medical care to their own animals, frequently beyond the scope of their ability, which results in less than desirable outcomes and subsequent environmental impact through improper disposal of deceased livestock. The use of antimicrobials without veterinary oversight increases the rate of residue violations in the food supply. Should this nomination not be accepted, the area will continue to be under-served, allowing for the continued erosion of critical food supply veterinary infrastructure in one of the largest food animal producing states in the country.
Community Aspects
This region is located in the scenic foothills of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains. The region offers numerous recreational activities, upscale and moderate housing, and opportunities for industrial and commercial operations. The region was home to early German and Scotch-Irish settlers who brought their traditions – from farming to music and crafts. The area thrives with outdoor activities, festivals, vineyards, and a charming small-town atmosphere. The community caters to all ages and interests. Live entertainment is abundant year-round including MerleFest, the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, and NASCAR.