Now, three researchers in Kansas State University's College of Business Administration will help a newly formed coalition of food supply veterinary interest groups determine methods to ensure adequate veterinary involvement in the production of a continuing abundant supply of safe and wholesome food.

The $300,000 study, "Estimating Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Demand and Maintaining the Availability of Veterinarians in Careers in Food Supply Related Disciplines in the United States and Canada," is being commissioned by the Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Coalition and Bayer Animal Health. The coalition's members include the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

The study is being led by K-State's David Andrus, professor and head of the department of marketing, with Bruce Prince, professor of management, and Kevin Gwinner, associate professor of marketing.

"Food supply veterinary medicine encompasses all aspects of veterinary medicine's involvement in food supply systems, from traditional agricultural production to consumption," Andrus said.

"This comprehensive study will be comprised of multiple research phases addressing the demand for and the availability of food supply veterinarians in the United States and Canada," he said. "Additionally, the project will address student recruitment, retention and appropriate training of food supply veterinarians in order to serve society."

Andrus said the study is expected to be complete by late summer 2005.

"This study will have profound and lasting effects on food supply veterinar
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Contact: David Andrus
andrus@k-state.edu
785-532-6010
Kansas State University
3-Jun-2004