Assessing veterinary medical education with regard to the attraction, admission, and education of students interested in food supply veterinary medicine and retention of student interest in a career in the food supply sector

Demographic time bombs-Although livestock populations have remained relatively stable, the population of rural America has undergone a series of demographic shifts. The rural population has consistently decreased as a proportion of the total population. Currently, approximately 0.7% of the US population lives on farms. Traditionally, large numbers of the veterinary students who subsequently became food animal practitioners grew up on farms and sought careers that supported livestock agriculture. Consequently, this traditional pool of potential trainees is proportionately smaller, directly impacting the life experience, interest, and career goals of prospective veterinary students. The FSVM reports 1-3 substantiate that growing up on a farm and having experiences with livestock are important factors that favor the choice of a career in FSVM; however, the shrinking population of rural America renders this pool of potential trainees less likely to meet demand.