New Oklahoma DVMs to get lower interest rates, if they treat at least 30 percent large animals

Oklahoma City, Okla.

-- New veterinarians who devote 30 percent of their practice to large animals now will be eligible for the Oklahoma Agricultural Linked Deposit Program.

The program, originally established to benefit young ranchers and farmers, assists participating banks in lowering interest rates on loans for qualifying farms and agricultural-related businesses. House Bill 1919, which was signed into law this week, means new mixed-animal veterinary practices are now eligible.

“The trend these days is for veterinarians to specialize in the care of small animals and pets rather than large farm animals, and this shift has had an adverse affect on our farmers and ranchers, who face greater obstacles in securing veterinary care,” said state Rep. Steven Kouplen (D-Beggs). “I authored this legislation as a means to incentivize our veterinarians to devote more of their practice to large animals, and I hope to see just that.”