Clemson University Veterinary Students Will Provide On-Farm Care

Clemson University’s new College of Veterinary Medicine is launching an ambulatory field service that will give Veterinary students hands-on experience while helping address rural Veterinary shortages across South Carolina. Beginning with the school’s inaugural class, fourth-year students will complete six-week rotations providing supervised on-farm and after-hours care for cattle, horses, swine, and other livestock using four fully equipped mobile Veterinary units. The program aims to improve students’ clinical, communication, and problem-solving skills by allowing them to take the lead under the guidance of experienced veterinarians.

Initially, Clemson will partner with other Veterinary schools to staff the rotations while its own students progress through the curriculum. University leaders emphasize that the service is designed to complement—not compete with—local Veterinary practices by focusing on education rather than revenue generation. The initiative also seeks to encourage graduates to practice in South Carolina, where several counties face significant shortages of rural and large-animal veterinarians.