AVMA Economic Forum Addresses Practice Valuations and Veterinary Burnout Metrics

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — October 7, 2026 — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opened its annual Veterinary Business & Economic Forum, convening global practice leaders, healthcare executives, and industry economists. Early proceedings focused on practice valuation trends, veterinary retention economics, and workforce exhaustion metrics.

Veterinary Workforce Burnout Metrics

Data presented at the forum highlighted the operational challenge of clinician fatigue:

• Exhaustion Rates: Over 75% of active clinical veterinarians report medium to high exhaustion metrics.

• Practice Retention Impact: Staff turnover driven by burnout is estimated to cost clinical practices tens of thousands of dollars per departing associate in lost revenue and recruitment expenses.

• Workflow Solutions: Speakers highlighted practice automation, delegating non-clinical tasks to veterinary technicians, and structured appointment scheduling as essential tools to protect team well-being.

Economic Valuation & Market Intelligence

Economic analysts noted that while consolidation has stabilized following post-pandemic surges, practice valuations remain strong for clinics with stable staffing and modern digital workflows.

Simultaneously, global commodity indices from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicate easing international poultry prices driven by South American export volumes, alongside stable pig meat pricing metrics.