Description
Diagnose, treat, and research diseases and injuries in large animals, including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, and other livestock. Includes veterinarians who provide ambulatory farm and ranch care, manage herd health and reproduction, inspect and certify livestock for movement or sale, and support public health and food safety through biosecurity and regulatory compliance.
- • Examine individual large animals and herds to diagnose diseases, injuries, or performance issues.
- • Treat sick or injured large animals with medications, wound care, fracture management, or field surgery.
- • Vaccinate livestock and equines according to herd health protocols and regional risks.
- • Collect blood, milk, feces, tissue, or other samples for diagnostic testing and surveillance.
- • Operate and interpret portable diagnostics such as ultrasound, radiography, endoscopy, or point-of-care labs.
- • Educate producers, handlers, and the public about zoonoses, biosecurity, and safe food production.
- • Train and supervise farm staff on handling, treatment protocols, and animal welfare practices.
- • Provide care across species such as cattle, horses, small ruminants, swine, camelids, or poultry, or specialize in one.
- • Perform humane euthanasia of large animals, counsel clients on end-of-life decisions, and coordinate carcass disposal per regulations.
- • Develop and monitor biosecurity, quarantine, and testing programs that meet state and federal requirements.
- • Perform field necropsies and submit specimens to determine causes of illness or death.
- • Manage ambulatory services and large-animal hospital or haul-in facility operations.
- • Specialize in areas such as theriogenology, surgery, internal medicine, nutrition, or herd health management.
- • Inspect and test cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, or poultry for reportable or communicable diseases.
- • Design and execute reproduction and nutrition programs, including pregnancy checks and ration formulation.
- • Research, apply, or contribute to advances in diseases affecting food animals and equines.
- • Complete regulatory documentation, including certificates of veterinary inspection, Coggins testing, and movement permits.
- • Advise clients on housing, sanitation, grazing, biosecurity, transport, and treatment options.
- • Maintain continuing education, licensure, and federal or state accreditation.
- • Coordinate scheduling, emergency calls, route planning, inventory control, billing, and medical records.
- • Provide emergency obstetric care, including dystocia management and cesarean sections.
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Agriculture
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
