Quebec’s agriculture ministry plans to encourage veterinary students to consider livestock medicine by granting new bursaries to those who do.
The ag, food and fisheries ministry (MAPAQ) said Thursday it plans to provide bursaries of $5,000 and $10,000 for veterinary students, in their fourth and fifth years of study, who plan to work with livestock upon graduating.
With these grants, MAPAQ said, it hopes to stimulate interest in livestock among veterinary students while maintaining access to veterinary services in all regions of the province.
To be considered for the grants, a student must be enrolled in a fourth of fifth year of university study and registered for the doctorate program in the University of Montreal’s faculty of veterinary medicine at St-Hyacinthe.
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An applicant will also need to state his or her intention to steer a veterinary career toward work with food animals, the province said.
The deadline to apply for the grants is Feb. 26, 2010, MAPAQ said.
Statistics from the province’s veterinary medical association show a significant number of veterinarians plan to retire within the next three years, MAPAQ said, and the ministry aims to provide a succession plan for veterinary service in all regions.
