Nixon: Grant will help to train veterinarians

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon said the state will use a $500,000 grant to fund a pilot program aimed at addressing a nationwide shortage of large-animal veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Nixon announced the agreement Friday between the state's agriculture department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program.

He said in a news release that experts from animal health science will work to find ways to train more professionals in large-animal health. The effort is designed to address a shortage of up to 1,500 large-animal veterinarians across the country.

The program will provide more specialized training to veterinarians and veterinarian technicians. The news release says the pilot program could someday lead to a national food animal veterinary institute in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which stretches between Columbia, Mo., and Manhattan, Kan.