The general public does not realize it. Farmers don’t fully appreciate it. Politicians certainly don’t understand. Aspiring veterinarians usually don’t know.  Heck, even licensed veterinarians aren’t aware. 

Aren’t aware of what?  The essential role of veterinarians in getting safe, high-quality, and abundant food from the farm to your kitchen! When people think about veterinarians and farms, they think about James Harriot taking care of Bessy the cow, cute little lambs, or Wilber the pig from Charlottes’s Web.  

But the truth is that veterinarians play so many roles in food production that are essential, but go unrecognized.  To illustrate this, I decided to share some of the roles that the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine alumni currently hold around the country to ensure that the food you consume is safe and of the highest quality.

Let’s start with Jared Lyzenga, who is at a primary dairy practice in Western Canada; Karen Peterson, who works for a food animal practice in Lakeview Michigan; and Alex Strauch, who works for a large poultry producer.  These folks are the front-line veterinary practitioners who care for the health and wellbeing of food producing animals.  They make sure the animals are disease free, and when a health issue arises, they make sure it is treated appropriately, and importantly, that the products produced (milk, meat, and eggs) remain safe for you and I to eat.

Then, there is Nick Barbu and Adam Doerr, who work as technical service veterinarians for a feed company and a pharmaceutical company.  Their role is to help producers use nutritional and pharmaceutical products in the ways that are most beneficial to the animals and the products they produce, while staying economical for the farmers. 

Veterinarians play essential roles in developing and implementing rules and regulations at the state and federal levels.  James Averill, the current State Veterinarian for Michigan, is essentially in charge of protecting the health of all domestic animals, but certainly with an emphasis on food-producing animals. Brianna Waldrop works for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that meat products are safe. Then there is Laura Gurley, who will graduate in 2018 and go on to work for the USDA Veterinary to help control infectious diseases that have national importance.

How about Jessica Watson? Jessica is the manager of Animal Health Policy at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.  Her job is to make sure that US National policy is such that beef cattle health and beef product safety are not compromised. 

Kate McCarthy Lott is the director of Farm Engagement at Tillamook County Creamery in Tillamook Oregon. Her job is to provide education to producer members of the co-op to ensure continuous improvement in milk quality and safety. 

Teaching the next generation of food animal veterinarians and developing new knowledge is a critical role.  Jessica Gordon is an assistant professor in Ruminant Health Management at the University of Guelph, Ontario, where she teaches the next generation of veterinarians in beef and dairy health management.  Paul Walz is a professor at Auburn University and is the world’s leading authority on bovine viral diarrhea virus.  His research has allowed veterinarians to make significant strides in managing this important virus of cattle.  

This is just a snap shot of the roles, responsibilities, and possibilities veterinarians play when it comes to your food! Next time you are drinking a cold glass of delicious chocolate milk or enjoying a wonderfully cooked flat iron steak, thank veterinarians for helping to make it happen!