• Beef Courses
• Dairy Courses
• Poultry Courses
• Small Ruminant Courses
• Swine Courses

Beef Courses

VDPAM 309X. Intro to Production Animal Informatics. Cr. 1.S. Prereq. Enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine curriculum. Introduction to computer tools used in production medicine with practical application.

VDPAM 310. Intro to Production Medicine. Cr. 2. S. Prereq. Currently enrolled in Vet Med III. The course will describe the role of the veterinarian in the management of animal health and production in dairy and beef cattle herds, beef feedlots and swine herds. The intent of this course is to provide veterinary students with a starting point to understand the principles and techniques that are the basis of food-animal health management programs.

VDPAM 340. Clinical Foundations I. (0-40) Cr. 1. F,S. Prereq: Classification in veterinary medicine. One week course at Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. An introduction to Food Supply Veterinary Medicine covering industry (beef, dairy, pork, sheep) overviews, production systems, behavior, welfare, handling and restraint and examination techniques, biosecurity, epidemiology and food safety.

VDPAM 350X. Basic Livestock Nutrition and Feeding. Cr. 1. F,S. Prereq: Classification in veterinary medicine. Introductory course on livestock (beef, dairy, swine, sheep, and equine) nutrition and feeding principles. Students will apply scientific facts and principles to problem-solving procedures in determining nutritious and economical livestock feeding programs.

VDPAM 436. Beef Records Analysis. Cr. 1 per semester. F.S. Prereq: Classification in veterinary medicine. Students will learn to conduct and critically financial data using Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) in beef herds. Students will be matched with individual herds and work with producers to identify areas for improving profitability, health, and sustainability. Enrolling in the class for multiple semesters will be encouraged.

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.

VDPAM 482. Applied Beef Production Medicine Preceptorship. (0-40) Cr. 1-6. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: 310.Advanced course in beef production medicine with emphasis on herd management, production analysis, and problem solving. Forty hours clinical experience per week. (Repeatable)

1. Assignment with practicing veterinarian and/or production unit. -App Dairy Prod Med-F,S
2. Bull Breeding Soundness at GPVEC - App Med Bull Breedi - S
3. Calving at GPVEC - Applied Med Calving - F,S
4. Feedlot Management at GPVEC - App MD BF Feedlt Mgt - F,S
5. Weaning Management at GPVEC - App BF Med Wean Mgt - F
6. Pregnancy Examination at GPVEC - App BF MD Preg Exam - F
7. Bovine Reproduction at GPVEC - App Med Bovin Repro - F
8. App MD BF Feedlt Mgt @ Sweiger - F,S

(Need Permission of Instructor on all Sections.)

VDPAM 483. Beef Production Medicine. (15-20) Cr. 2 F.S. SS. Prereq: 310X. Two week advanced clinical rotation in beef production medicine. Fifteen hours recitation/discussion and 20 hours clinical experience per week. This course is designed to expose students to cow-calf and feedlot production concepts. The activities scheduled for the rotation depend greatly on the time of year. When ever possible, the class incorporates field trips. Students should anticipate that travel is required and overnight stays may be required. These field trips can vary in length from several hours to several days and may include weekends. As of 2006, one week of the rotation is spent at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center, Clay Center, NE. Students should, therefore, plan accordingly and contact the instructor, immediately, if they anticipate a conflict. Students should not schedule Grand Rounds during this rotation.

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.

Dairy Courses

VDPAM 402. Advanced Dairy Production Informatics. (1-0) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: VDPAM 309X or permission of instructor. Advanced coverage of concepts related to collection, manipulation, analysis and reporting of information used by dairy farms and their consults. 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. For VM 1's, 2's and 3's.

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 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. Coming Spring, 2009.

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. (Required)

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.

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.

Poultry Courses

VDPAM 408. Poultry Medicine and Disease Prevention. (Dual-listed with VDPAM 508.) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Enrollment in College of Veterinary Medicine. Bacterial, viral, parasitic, and nutritional diseases of domestic poultry and gamebirds; biosecurity, immunization, and management procedures to prevent poultry diseases.  (VM 1,2, & 3's) Taught even years, next offering S 2010.

VDPAM 508. Poultry Medicine and Disease Prevention. (Dual-listed with VDPAM 408.) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Graduate student status in Vet Med, Animal Science, Animal Ecology, or Biology. Bacterial, viral, parasitic, and nutritional diseases of domestic poultry and gamebirds; biosecurity, immunization, and management procedures to prevent poultry diseases. Taught even years, next offering S 2010.

Small Ruminant Courses

VDPAM 486. Introduction to Small Ruminant Production Medicine. (13-6) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: Classification in Veterinary Medicine. Small ruminant management systems, common diseases and herd health will be emphasized in this class. There will also be several labs involving general physical exams, blood draws, FAMCHA training, and advanced reproduction techniques. This class will give students an in-depth look at small ruminants and will include several hands-on learning experiences as well as tours of production facilities.

VDPAM 420G. Preceptorship in Veterinary Medical Practice.  Cr. 1 to 6 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine, permission of department chair. Elective course in veterinary practice under the guidance of veterinarians in approved practice settings. 420G will be small ruminant focused being held at Great Plains Veterinary Education Center.

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 495X. Advanced Small Ruminant Production Medicine. (15-20) Cr. 2. F, S. Prereq:
Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine, VDPAM 486 or permission of instructor. Two week
clinical rotation in small ruminant production medicine. Field trips will be incorporated when possible.
Topics to be covered include small ruminant industries (milk, meat, and fiber), milk quality, nutrition,
reproduction, and disease management of small ruminants.

Swine Courses

VDPAM 309X. Intro to Production Animal Informatics. Cr. 1.S. Prereq. Enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine curriculum. Introduction to computer tools used in production medicine with practical application.

VDPAM 310. Intro to Production Medicine. Cr. 2. S. Prereq. Currently enrolled in Vet Med III. The course will describe the role of the veterinarian in the management of animal health and production in dairy and beef cattle herds, beef feedlots and swine herds. The intent of this course is to provide veterinary students with a starting point to understand the principles and techniques that are the basis of food-animal health management programs.

VDPAM 419X. Advanced Swine Production Informatics. (1-0) Cr. 1. F. Prereq: VPAM 309X. Advanced coverage of concepts related to collection, manipulation, analysis and reporting of information used by swine production companies. Production, financial, diagnostic and clinical data will be covered in the course. Hands-on experience with computer software and information systems used in swine production will be provided. Optional field trip.

VDPAM 479. Applied Swine Production Medicine. (0-40) Cr. 1-6 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: 310X. Two week advanced course in swine 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 480. Advanced Swine Production Medicine. (15-25) Cr. 2. Repeatable. F,S,SS Prereq: 310X. Two week advanced clinical rotation in swine production medicine. Fifteen hours recitation/discussion and 25 hours clinical experience per week. The instructor will lead field trips as well as problem solving exercises where the student will apply concepts of herd management, production analysis, economic analysis, and disease prevention. Variable amounts of travel to farm sites will be required with the potential for rare to occasional overnight stays.

VDPAM 650. Swine Diagnostic Medicine. Cr. 1-4. SS. Prereq: Permission of instructor. A detailed study of swine diseases emphasizing the pathogenesis and diagnosis of swine respiratory, enteric, reproduction, metabolic, and septicemic diseases.

VDPAM 655. Advanced Swine Production Medicine. Cr. 1-4. S. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Detailed overview of applied techniques used in swine production medicine; production modeling and record analysis, production economics and financial analysis, therapeutic and vaccination strategies, quality control procedures and food safety