Ranchers and livestock producers across rural California are being asked to help identify areas where access to veterinary care is becoming increasingly difficult.
State Senator Megan Dahle is encouraging producers to participate in the Livestock Veterinary Care Access Survey, a joint effort by the California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The survey is designed to pinpoint communities facing shortages of veterinarians who treat cattle and other livestock. In many rural areas, producers say it’s becoming harder to find veterinary care, with some regions having no large-animal veterinarians at all and others relying on a small number of practitioners serving large geographic areas.
Information gathered through the survey will help identify underserved areas and support efforts to attract more veterinarians through federal loan forgiveness programs and other recruitment and retention incentives.
Officials say large-animal veterinarians play a vital role in maintaining animal health, protecting food production, and supporting California’s agricultural economy.
Livestock producers who have experienced challenges accessing veterinary care are encouraged to complete the survey and share information about conditions in their area.
