Summary
Since
1966, approximately 1 000 veterinarians graduate each year from
16 veterinary schools in Japan. According to reports submitted by
veterinarians to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
in January 2007, there were over 35 818 veterinarians in Japan
at the end of 2006. Of this total, 13 202 (36.8%) were engaged
in companion animal practice, 9 112 (25.4%) were civil servants
and 4 180 (11.7%) were engaged in food animal practice. The
total number of veterinarians has increased gradually over the past
40 years. Recently, the number of veterinarians engaged in companion
animal practice has increased while the number of veterinarians
engaged in food animal practice is declining. These trends reflect
the change in demand for veterinarians in food and companion animal
practice, resulting mainly from changes in the number of food animals
and companion animals in recent years. The number of veterinarians
in the public sector has decreased gradually due to the administrative
reforms of recent years.
Keywords
Animal,
Companion animal, Demand, Education, Food animal, Japan, Pet, Supply,
Veterinarian, Veterinary practice, Veterinary profession.
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