State Awards $890,000 for Large Animal Vets
Seven veterinarians receive grants to expand livestock care across Virginia, as the state faces a shortage of large animal practitioners.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Veterinary Medicine
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The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission awarded seven veterinarians a total of $890,000 in Large Animal Veterinary Grants. The awards aim to support veterinarians who primarily treat livestock, poultry, and equines.
Why it matters
The grants target the ongoing shortage of large animal veterinarians in Virginia and across the country. They are intended to help veterinarians establish or grow sustainable practices and remain committed to their local communities.
The VDACS program awarded four recipients $110,000 each, while three TRRC-funded grants of $150,000 each went to practices in Southern and Southwest Virginia. Disbursement will occur over a multi-year period.
The players
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The state agency that administers the VDACS Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program and oversees agricultural regulation in Virginia.
Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
A state commission that funds economic development projects in Virginia's tobacco-dependent regions, including the grants for veterinary services in the south and southwest.
Dr. Thach Winslow
A veterinarian named Virginia Large Animal Veterinary Workforce Coordinator by the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.
The details
The VDACS Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program launched in 2025 and incentivizes veterinarians who primarily care for livestock, poultry, and equines. The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission established its program alongside it to increase veterinary services for livestock producers in Southern and Southwest Virginia. Grant funds may be used to hire veterinarians, purchase equipment, outfit mobile veterinary units, and expand haul-in capacity.
Timeline
2025: The VDACS Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program launched.
2026: Seven veterinarians were awarded the Large Animal Veterinary Grants.
Multi-year period: Grant funds are disbursed.
Industry Dynamics
The awards extend the VDACS Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program, launched in 2025, which pairs state incentives with a parallel Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission program. Together they aim to rebuild large animal veterinary capacity in rural Virginia.
Livestock producers in Southern and Southwest Virginia may see expanded mobile veterinary service and greater haul-in capacity as recipients use their awards. Farmers seeking large animal care should watch for new practices opening in their region as grant funds are disbursed.
The takeaway
Sustained large animal care depends on veterinarians who can keep practices running in their communities. Livestock owners who rely on local vets should watch for expanded services as these grant-funded practices take shape.
Further reading
Explore more on Veterinary Medicine to see how large animal care is evolving across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSLS.
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Should Virginia use state money to keep rural large animal veterinarians practicing?
