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Are you a compassionate person who loves farm animals?

Do you enjoy living and/or working on a farm?

A woman petting a cow and kissing its face.

If so, you might be an aspiring livestock veterinarian!

What does a livestock veterinarian do?

A livestock veterinarian specializes in treating animals typically found on farms and ranches, such as horses, cows, sheep, goats, and pigs.

a pink baby pig next to its motherPhoto by Stefanie Poepken on Unsplash

What does a typical day look like for a livestock veterinarian?

On any given day, a livestock veterinarian might:

  • diagnose and treat the illnesses of animals and care for their wounds

  • prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and attend to births

  • perform health and wellness exams

  • provide information and advice to animal owners

a man wearing a black shirt and blue pants, petting a black cow

Did you know?

Most livestock veterinarians are "on call" for emergencies so they can attend to emergencies on weekends and holidays. This means they often end up working long hours (Kramer, Animal Career Expert, 2016).

How do I become a livestock veterinarian?

graduation cap with a diploma

  1. Earn a Bachelor's degree in a related field such as animal science, biology, or pre-veterinary medicine.

  2. Attend veterinary school to obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) degree. This is typically a four-year program that includes hands-on experience through internships and residency.

Where might I work as a livestock veterinarian?

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Private or Group Practice

Travel to farms and ranches to treat large animals.

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Pharmaceuticals

Work in veterinary pharmaceutical research to develop, test, and supervise drug production.

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Government

Work as a researcher for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), or related agencies.

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Academia

Become a researcher and professor at a university's school of veterinary medicine. Serve in classrooms, clinics, and laboratories.

What is the salary of a livestock veterinarian?

Flaticon IconThe average annual salary in the U.S. is $114,099 (USD).

Flaticon IconThe average annual salary in Canada is $103,687 (CAD).

Is a career as a livestock veterinarian for me?

Flaticon IconYou'll love it if you...

  • have a passion for working with and improving the lives of animals

  • are a compassionate effective listener and communicator

  • are willing to travel to farms and work in various weather conditions

Flaticon IconYou might not if you...

  • are afraid of working with large and sick animals

  • don't want to go through at least 4 years of vet school after undergraduate studies

  • don't like working long hours on nights and weekends

Pick the future livestock veterinarian

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  • enjoys animals of all sizes

  • volunteers at animal shelters and farms

  • likes traveling and being "on the go"

  • willing to be "on call" and treat animals during emergencies

JasonFlaticon Icon

  • enjoys small animals, afraid of big ones

  • no volunteer experience

  • prefers to work remotely

  • plans to work a set schedule: Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm

Quiz

Who would be the best fit for this career?

Take Action

A livestock veterinarian holding a baby goat in a barn.

Are you ready to launch your career as a livestock veterinarian?

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This Byte has been authored by

LM

Lani Matsumura

Instructional Designer / eLearning Developer

English

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