Large animal veterinarians in North Carolina can now apply for grants of up to $25,000 to support their practices. The funding is available to veterinarians who work in one of the 70 counties in North Carolina with populations of 100,000 or fewer and dedicate at least 30% of their patient care to large animals.
“Since the Large Animal Fund was established, we have awarded funds to 16 different veterinarians from across the state totaling over $250,000,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “These vets cover 63 different counties across the state, assisting with many different species of animals.”
The grants may be used for purposes such as repaying educational loans related to a veterinary degree, purchasing equipment or technology for use in practice, or other uses determined appropriate by the advisory committee to promote and develop large animal veterinary services in eligible counties.
“The field of large animal medicine is in dire need of assistance due to many reasons such as the high student loan debt, slim profit margins and equipment costs,” said Troxler. “This has deterred many promising vet students from going into the specialized field of large animal medicine. While we are doing all we can with the current funds available, I want to stress the importance of growth and development of this fund. Partnerships with agriculture industry leaders will be crucial in the expansion of this program. With increased support from these partnerships, we will be able to assist more vets from across the state and further support the large animal industry.”
Applications are open until January 31, 2026. Interested veterinarians can access applications online at https://fs4.formsite.com/QopHZM/eri6jiyqie/index. Additional information is available through frequently asked questions or by emailing largeanimalvetgrants@ncagr.gov.
Grant recipients will be selected by the Large Animal Health Enhancement Advisory Committee. This committee consists of several members including representatives from North Carolina’s agricultural sector and veterinary professionals.
