Courses

VDPAM 402. Advanced Dairy Production Informatics. (1-1) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: 309 or permission of instructor. Advanced coverage of concepts related to collection,
manipulation, analysis and reporting of information used by dairy farms and their
consultants. Hands on experience with Dairy Comp 305 and PCDart as well as other dairy management and information software. Course will integrate this data with dairy operations' financial situations. 

VDPAM 402L. Advanced Dairy Production Informatics Lab. Cr. Arr. Repeatable. S. Prereq: Permission of Instructor. Continued practice in computer dairy records. Experience in tracking sample herd performance and providing written report with graphs/tables as the final assignment.

VDPAM 476X - Food Animal Field Service. Cr. 2 each time taken. F,S,SS. Prereq: Fourth year classification in Veterinary Medicine or Permission of Instructor. Elective course in food animal field services. Students will assist the University veterinarian in delivering health care production management services to the ISU livestock farms and other selected farms in the region. Focus will be on delivery of individual animal care and establishment of best practices for herd management of dairy production systems at the university and in the region.

VDPAM 484.  Introduction to Dairy Production Medicine.  (15-20) Cr. 2. F, SS.  Prereq:  310X.  Two week introductory topics in dairy production medicine with emphasis on monitoring disease, disease prevention, and production economics.  Fifteen hours recitation/discussion and 20 hours clinical experience per week. 

VDPAM 485.  App Dairy Production Medicine .  (0-40) Cr. 1-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS.  Prereq:  VDPAM 484.  Two week advanced course in dairy production medicine with emphasis on herd management, production analysis, and problem solving.  Forty hours clinical experience per week.  Assignments will include preceptorships with a practicing veterinarian and/or a production unit. 

VDPAM 491X. Advanced Ruminant Nutrition.   (30-10) C 3.  Prereq: None.  VDPAM 350X is recommended.  Advanced Ruminant Nutrition will focus on beef and dairy nutrition from the calf to the adult, lactating cow.  Students will learn to balance rations for beef cow-calf, feedlot & dairy operations.  In addition, this course will introduce different feedstuffs and forage varieties to determine those that are best suited for bovine diets. 

VDPAM 494X.  Advanced Dairy Production Medicine II. (1-0) Cr. 2.  S.  Prereq:  VM4 and VDPAM 484 or permission of instructor.  Advanced coverage in investigating dairy herd problems relating to milk quality or nutrition.  Milk quality and nutrition troubleshooting will be taught through the combination of lecture and on-farm investigations.  Students will combine lecture knowledge, data acquired from on-farm investigations and record analysis to generate management plans. 

VDPAM 416.  Bovine Reproduction Evaluation Laboratory.  (0-4) Cr. 1. F.S.  Prereq:  Third-year classification in veterinary medicine.  10 students per section.  Bovine rectal palpation techniques will be repetitively taught in 7 four-hour sessions.  Students will also learn techniques of epidural anesthesia, artificial insemination, and ultrasonic imaging.  University owned cattle will be used. 

VDPAM 450.  Disturbances of Reproduction.  (Same as VCS 450.)  (4-0) Cr. 4. F. Prereq:  Third-year classification in veterinary medicine.  Endocrinology and general principles of diseases causing disturbance in reproduction. 

VDPAM 451.  Clinical Embryo Transfer. (0-40) Cr. 2. F,S,SS.  Prereq:  An S 333; fourth year classification in veterinary medicine.  Elective clinical assignment in techniques of embryo transfer.  Primary species studied will be bovine but equine and small ruminant embryo transfer will be covered during appropriate seasons.  Enrollment is limited to three students per two week sessions. 

Below are the University of Wisconsin Options:

VDPAM 437.  Basic Clinical Skills for Production Medicine (MS 623-701): Dairy Herd Problem Identification. (Pat Gorden) (7-33) Cr. 2. F,S,SS.  Prereq: Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine.  Seven hours recitation/discussion and 33 hours clinical experience per week.  Course taken for two weeks at University of Wisconsin, Madison, on a space-available basis.  Learn to interpret DHI records and use them to identify and monitor herd problems of production, mastitis, reproduction, and replacement heifer management.  Evaluate rates and treatment protocols of common dairy herd diseases.  Assess dairy housing including ventilation and freestalls.  Estimate costs of herd problems and develop partial-budgets. 

VDPAM 438.  Mastitis Problem Investigations (MS 623-703): Mastitis/Milk Quality. (Pat Gorden)  (9-31) Cr. 2. F.S.SS.  Prereq:  Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine.  Nine hours recitation/discussion and 31 hours clinical experience per week.  Course taken for two weeks at University of Wisconsin, Madison on a space-available basis.  Learn to evaluate rates of clinical mastitis using manual and computerized (DC305) record systems.  Interpret somatic cell count records to target mastitis problems.  Collect samples and interpret milk microbiology reports.  Evaluate mastitis risks in housing systems (stalls, bedded packs, etc.)  Analyze milking systems and milker practices.  Develop mastitis treatment protocols. 

VDPAM 439.  Clinical Investigations of Fresh Cow and Calf Problems (MS 623-705): Applied Dairy Nutrition.  (Pat Gorden) (3-37) Cr. 2 F.S.SS.  Prereq:  Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine.  Three hours lecture, 37 hours clinical experience per week.  Course taken for two weeks at University of Wisconsin, Madison on a space-available basis.  Learn to evaluate calf and peri-parturient cow management practices.  Develop an investigation strategy for ambiguous herd problems.  Collect samples and interpret herd-based diagnostic tests for infectious and metabolic diseases.  Assess environmental risk factors for metabolic and infectious disease including hygiene and housing.  Assess nutritional status of herds via nutritional management, actual feed intake, particle length determination, etc.