Comprehensive rotations in bovine medicine, production health, herd management, and ambulatory practice across dairy, feedlot, and small ruminant operations.
Medical management of cattle diseases including metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, and respiratory/digestive conditions in beef and dairy herds.
Herd health management, performance metrics, nutrition, and preventive medicine strategies for dairy and beef operations.
Reproductive health management including breeding soundness exams, pregnancy monitoring, dystocia management, and fertility programs.
On-farm herd visits, field diagnosis and treatment, farm management consultation, and practical skills development.
Surgical procedures in cattle including cesarean sections, exploratory laparotomy, and other surgical interventions.
Specialized rotation in dairy herd management including lactation physiology, mastitis control, and milk quality programs.
Feedlot production medicine including respiratory disease management, nutrition, and cattle welfare in intensive systems.
Sheep and goat medicine and production including parasite management, reproduction, and herd health programs.
Swine production medicine including disease prevention, herd health management, and productivity optimization.
Extensive beef production systems including range management, animal welfare, and herd health in extensive settings.
Residue prevention, food safety compliance, and quality assurance programs in animal agriculture.
| Month | Primary Rotation | Secondary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| July | Production Medicine | Bovine Medicine (concurrent) |
| August | Ambulatory Practice | Theriogenology (concurrent) |
| September | Food Animal Surgery | Perioperative management |
| October-December | Elective Rotations | Dairy, feedlot, small ruminants, swine |
| January-February | Advanced Electives | Ranching, food safety, research projects |
A. Investigate systematically: Review milking records, management practices (cleaning, drying-off protocols), milk quality data. Obtain milk cultures from affected cows. Examine milking equipment. Identify environmental vs. contagious organisms. Develop targeted intervention plan.
A. Investigate pregnancy loss: Nutritional deficiencies (vitamin A, energy), BVD infection, infectious agents, management stress, inadequate facilities. Perform serologic testing (BVD), assess nutrition, examine records for poor genetics.
A. BRD prevention/management: Vaccination protocols on arrival, environmental controls (ventilation, dust), feed quality, water quality, reduced handling stress. Early detection and treatment protocols. Consider metaphylaxis in high-risk groups.
A. Dystocia management: Rapid assessment of fetal position (forward/backward presentation). Attempt traction if properly positioned. Consider assisted delivery with obstetric equipment. If unsuccessful, perform emergency cesarean section. Manage pain, fluids, antibiotics.
A. Acute septic mastitis management: IV fluids for shock/toxemia. Broad-spectrum antibiotics. NSAIDs for fever/pain. Frequent milking to remove inflammatory mediators. Monitor for sepsis/DIC. Supportive care including electrolytes.
A. Ram fertility assessment: General health (fever, systemic disease), scrotal health (temperature, inflammation), testicular size/consistency, nutrition (zinc, selenium deficiency), age, genetics. Perform semen analysis (volume, motility, morphology).
A. Investigate piglet mortality: Examine dead/sick pigs for clinical signs. Obtain necropsies. Culture samples (respiratory, intestinal). Check environmental conditions (temperature, ventilation). Review diet (mycotoxins, nutrition). Assess vaccination/health programs.
A. Field lameness examination: Observe gait, identify affected limb. Palpate for pain, heat, swelling. Examine foot (sole ulcer, white line disease, abscess). Examine joint/stifle. Determine if foot or structural/joint problem. Treat accordingly (trim, antibiotics, NSAIDs, possible referral).
A. Sheep abortion investigation: Infectious: Chlamydial abortion, toxoplasmosis, brucellosis, vibrio. Non-infectious: Nutritional deficiencies (copper, vitamin A), stress, plant toxins. Obtain fetal tissues for culture. Serology on remaining ewes. History and management assessment.
A. Antibiotic stewardship: Implement early detection systems (somatic cell count monitoring). Use non-antibiotic treatments where appropriate (NSAIDs, supportive care). Target high-risk groups for prevention. Reserve antibiotics for severe/systemic infections. Monitor outcomes; adjust as needed.
A. Subclinical ketosis management: Measure blood or urine ketones. Assess body condition score (over-condition post-calving increases risk). Provide highly digestible forage, appropriate energy density. Consider propylene glycol treatment. Monitor milk production/quality decline.
A. Nutritional deficiency (hypocalcemia/hypophosphatemia): Assess ration calcium:phosphorus ratio and vitamin D levels. Adjust pre-calving diet to reduce dietary cation-anion difference. Provide calcium/phosphorus supplementation if needed. Monitor herd calcium/phosphorus status regularly.
A. Hardware disease prevention: Use magnets/metal detectors for feed. Educate about metal objects in hay/feed. Screen incoming hay. Vaccinate with tetanus toxoid (related to infection risk). Implement early detection protocols (fever, reduced intake, positioning changes).
A. Bulk tank SCC investigation: Individual cow SCC testing. Milk culture from high-SCC cows. Identify contagious (Staph aureus, Strep agalactiae) vs. environmental (Strep uberis, coliforms). Assess milking equipment, hygiene, and management practices. Develop targeted treatment plan.
A. Estrous synchronization principles: Control follicular wave (GnRH), regress corpus luteum (prostaglandin), prepare for ovulation (estrogen/progesterone). Protocols vary by animal status (cycling vs. anestrous). Time AI relative to GnRH/LH surge. Monitor results and adjust protocol as needed.
Contact your academic advisor to begin your comprehensive food animal clinical training.
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