West Texas A&M University is set to work with the Texas A&M System to open a new veterinary program with special emphasis on large-animal veterinary medicine. This program will expand the number of veterinary undergraduate courses at West Texas A&M University.

“Texas agricultural feeds and clothes the country. We will always need small-animal veterinarians to take care of our pets, but we also need more large-animal veterinarians helping to protect our state’s agricultural economy,” Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said.

West Texas A&M is one of four schools chosen throughout the A&M System for this veterinary outreach program. The other partnerships include Tarleton State University, Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All four of the A&M System universities have unique animal science programs that tie to the livestock or wildlife industries in their respective regions. “This initiative is ultimately about service to our state,” said Texas A&M University President Michael Young. “It extends the reach of our highly-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences while also putting the prospect of a veterinary education on the radar of more students throughout Texas.”

According to the press release on January 28, 2016, “Texas has more head of cattle than any other state in the country, and most of these cattle are concentrated in the High Plains, South Texas and Central Texas regions. Texas has almost three times as many horses as any of the other nine most populous states.” The report also stated that while Texas has so much more cattle and horses than other states, Texas is only ninth among the 10 most populous states in the number of actively practicing veterinarians per 100,000 population. Among all states and the District of Columbia, Texas ranks 45th in the number of active veterinarians per 100,000 people. This initiative is expected to increase the growth of the veterinary medicine field for the entire state.

Asides from the state-wide benefits this program will give Texans, it is also expected to help out the local students and cattle industry. West Texas A&M University Patrick O’Brien said that he looks forward to seeing this initiative give WTAMU students hands on experience in the veterinary field, as well as providing aid to the regions robust cattle industry.

The College of Veterinary Medicine intends to hire veterinary faculty to teach undergraduate courses, strengthen the curriculum, and explore research partnerships with industries in the region. Going forward, the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine will evaluate the need for there to be more veterinary courses off of the College Station campus, but for right now West Texas A&M University can expect to see two additional undergraduate professors take up residence in Canyon.