When you reach for a carton of eggs, a package of chicken or a container of cottage cheese at the grocery store, a quiet force has already been at work, protecting the safety of these in-demand food products long before they ever reach the shelf. That force is the more than 8,000 farm veterinarians across the U.S. who play a systemic, often invisible role in keeping farm animals healthy, our food supply safe and communities nourished. With animal protein, such as eggs and chicken, projected to grow at 5 percent annually in the U.S. alone, the work of farm veterinarians is critical.
This World Veterinary Day, we’re recognizing them by uplifting the theme “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health."
Veterinarians Involvement Every Step of the Way
Farm veterinarians are one of the most critical players in our food system and work often without fanfare or recognition. They monitor for zoonotic diseases and are present at the very beginning of life, helping newborn animals thrive. Their work spans the entire arc of food production. Farm veterinarians work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inspect meat and poultry products, uphold food safety standards and ensure that only safe, wholesome food enters our food supply. They advise producers on housing, herd management and nutrition.
These are the four key moments where farm veterinarians make their mark:
Stage 1: Birth & Early Life – Neonatal Health
Vets are there at the first breath. They monitor an animal’s vitals, perform exams and administer vaccines. Neonatal calf health is a critical window in a beef or dairy animal’s life and farm veterinarians are at the center of it, reducing early-life disease, improving outcomes and setting health herds on the right path.
Stage 2: Field & Ranch – Wellbeing & Best Practices
On the farm, veterinarians serve as ongoing advisors, consulting on housing best practices, nutrition and responsible antibiotic stewardship. They monitor for disease patterns and conduct epidemiological surveillance that protects not just the herd, but broader public health.
Stage 3: Processing & Inspection – Public Health
Farm veterinarians are present at processing and packaging facilities, conducting ante- and post-mortem inspections with the USDA. They verify that food safety standards are met and identify potential risks before they become public health issues.
Stage 4: Shelf & Consumer – Food Safety
That egg carton you just opened? A vet helped make it safe. Vets work with farmers to ensure only safe and wholesome meat, poultry and egg products enter the food supply, instilling consumer trust.
Why This Matters: The Global Protein Surge
The work of farm veterinarians is so important because the global demand for protein is accelerating. Animal protein is projected to grow at 5 percent annually in the U.S. alone, driven by several converging forces:
- Consumer demand: 61% of U.S. consumers are actively increasing their proteini intake as part of a broader “real food” health and wellness movement.
- Updated dietary guidelines: New recommendations suggest nearly doubling the current average protein intake, with even full-fat dairy returning to official guidelines.
- The rise of GLP-1 therapies: GLP users consume 40-50% more protein than non-usersii. By 2035, an estimated 21% of Americans are projected to be on GLP-1 medicationsiii.
- An aging global population: Adults over 60 are expected to increase by 25% globally by 2030iv, and higher protein intake is critical for muscle retention and healthy aging.
- Gen Z prioritizes health: Gen Z are more likely than any other generation to plan to eat more animal protein in the coming year with 39% of Gen Z Americans planning to increase their intake.
Healthy Animals and Food Security
Meeting the world’s growing protein demands isn’t just a logistics challenge – it's an animal health challenge. Meeting future demand will require healthy, productive animals. The monitoring, early detection, and control work that farm vets carry out every day makes them a critical guardian of human health. Veterinarians are making life better for animals, which makes life better for people.
i Cargill 2025 Protein Profile
ii Helmsman Group, The GLP-1 Revolution
iii Morgan Stanley Protein research
iv World Health Organization
