Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Growing up on a poultry farm near Rochester, Alberta, Dr. Hussein Keshwani says his early years shaped his views on animal health and policy today.

“I’d say growing up on a farm in Alberta, you certainly get an appreciation for the way the business side of the industry links with the rest of it,” Keshwani tells Rural Roots Canada. “Whether that’s disease preparedness, disease response, and the practicality of animal health policy.”

Recently named Alberta’s new Chief Provincial Veterinarian, Keshwani is bringing that perspective into a role that connects animal health, public safety, and the province’s livestock sector.

His path to the job included time at a rural mixed-animal practice in Wetaskiwin, where he worked with everything from beef, dairy, and equine operations to companion animals.

“Working in that rural practice, for me, was really valuable because my farm experience was not in the cattle industry,” he says. “So, it really gave me a better grounding in the cattle industry, working with cow-calf producers, working with dairies, understanding the day-to-day challenges they have.”

That experience also exposed him to one of the most pressing issues facing rural Alberta today – a shortage of veterinarians.

“It is a problem that we have a lack of veterinary professionals, and that’s both veterinarians as well as veterinary technologists in the industry in general,” Keshwani says.

In rural communities, he explains, that shortage can have real consequences for producers trying to manage animal health issues.

“Where there’s a shortage of food animal veterinarians out in our communities, particularly in rural Alberta, it can be very challenging for producers to access veterinary care in a timely manner.”

That delay can be critical when disease hits a herd or flock.

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“So, for instance, if an infection is spreading within their herd, it’s important that they get that timely care so they can get a diagnosis and they can get appropriate treatments initiated in their herd or flock,” he says.

Without that access, the impacts can quickly add up.

“It can ultimately impact the health of the herd or flock. It can impact the welfare of animals, and ultimately, it affects the bottom line of that producer if they lose animals that they might have otherwise been able to save.”

Keshwani says the challenge of recruiting and retaining rural vets goes beyond the profession itself.

“The challenge of maintaining professionals within rural Alberta is really part of a bigger societal issue about making these communities attractive to professionals of all types,” he says.

He points to the importance of building communities that support young professionals and their families.

“A big piece of it is ensuring that they are appealing to an individual who often is starting a new young family, and how does that community provide for their overall wellness, right? Jobs for their spouse, school for their children, a welcoming community, things like that.”

To address the issues, Keshwani points to new provincial efforts to get students into rural practices earlier in their careers.

“The Government of Alberta has just launched a new funding stream under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership that will provide some funding to help get students into real practices for summer rotations,” he notes.

“The intent is that as they work in those communities over the summer and build relationships, they’ll be more likely to forge bonds that cause them to come back to the community when they’re fully qualified and support those communities, and truly become a part of those communities.”

He acknowledges the program is only one piece of a broader solution.

Beyond workforce challenges, Keshwani is keeping an eye out for animal health threats that could have major economic consequences.

“Some of the things that probably are the biggest fears for those of us in the animal health industries are foreign animal diseases, foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever,” he says.

“Our livestock industries are heavily dependent on the export market, particularly when we’re talking about the pork and beef industries.”

An outbreak could be devastating.

“A disease like ASF or FMD, that would close our border for weeks or months or perhaps even longer,” he says. “That’s a huge concern because it can really be devastating for an industry.”

Looking ahead, Keshwani’s longer-term goal is to strengthen the systems that support both producers and public confidence.

“My goal in this role is to support healthy, resilient, sustainable health systems, to protect animal health, support producers, ensure food safety, and maintain public trust.”

Hear the full conversation: