Theriogenology Courses

VDPAM 351. Bovine Embryo Transfer and Related Technology.
Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Second or third year classification in veterinary medicine
This course will meet for two hours once each week of the Spring Semester. The first hour will be traditional lecture and the second hour will be a combination of student projects, labs and demonstrations of applied clinical procedures. Bovine embryo transfer and closely related topics such as: female reproductive physiology, estrus synchronization, semen sexing and reproductive disease will be emphasized. In addition, several class periods will be devoted to the use of ultrasound for diagnosis of reproductive and non-reproductive conditions.

VDPAM 416. Bovine Reproduction Evaluation Laboratory.
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. Biosecurity policies require documentation of your presence in the USA 5 days immediately prior to the start of class if international travel has occurred.,No Wednesday section in Spring semester.

VDPAM 421A. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center: Calving.
Cr. 1. F.S.SS. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine; ability to provide own transportation to each site.
The Calving Elective provides an opportunity to expand knowledge and experience in all phases of calving management. The program is structured around normal calving operations at USMARC. The GPVEC and USMARC veterinary staff will make an effort to include students in veterinary activities that take place during the Calving Elective. The opportunity exists for assistance in diagnosis, treatment, and management of many commonly encountered situations in the dam and calf. Students are encouraged to make every effort to become involved in USMARC calving activities. Direct involvement includes routine husbandry activities beyond those involving traditional veterinary roles which are expected of the student.

VDPAM 421B. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center: Bull Breeding Soundness.
Cr. 1. S. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine; ability to provide own transportation to each site.
The Bull Breeding Soundness Examination Elective involves training in all phases of the examination, collection, and semen evaluation for up to 200 herd bulls and/or sale bulls as recommended by the Society for Theriogenology. Chuteside training and hand-on experience are the primary training techniques for this elective with informal discussions held during the performance of the breeding soundness examinations.

VDPAM 421F. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center: Pregnancy Examination.
Cr. 1. F. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine; ability to provide own transportation to each site.
The Pregnancy Examination Elective involves students, the GPVEC faculty, and USMARC personnel during pregnancy examination. Activities involve rectal examinations for pregnancy, collecting data and entry into the CowCalf5 computer software program to evaluate the reproductive performance of the herd. This elective is designed for students who have some palpation experience and are interested in honing their skills. Ultrasonography may be utilized by students based on adequate time and interest. Pregnancy Examination occurs during yearly fall herd work at the USMARC, therefore, speed and accuracy will be stressed, rather than basic technique. Introduction into rectal examination for reproductive use is stressed during the Bovine Reproduction Elective.

VDPAM 421P. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center: Gomer Bull Surgery.
Cr. 1. F. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine; ability to provide own transportation to each site.
The Gomer Bull Surgery Elective is designed to give students interested in food animal surgery an opportunity to practice their surgical skills by performing penile translocations and epididymectomies on USMARC teaser bull candidates. Lectures specific to gomer bull surgery as well as other topics related to food animal surgery will be presented during this elective.

VDPAM 421S. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center: Ultrasound Pregnancy Examination
Cr. 1. SS. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine; ability to provide own transportation to each site.
The Ultrasound Pregnancy Examination Elective involves students, the GPVEC faculty, and USMARC personnel during pregnancy examination of USMARC yearling heifers. Activities involve transrectal ultrasonographic examinations for pregnancy, collecting data and entry into the CowHerd/CowCalf computer software program to evaluate the reproductive performance of the herd. This elective is designed for students who have some ultrasound experience and are interested in honing their skills. This elective occurs during yearly fall herd work at the USMARC, therefore, speed and accuracy will be stressed, rather than basic technique. Didactic instruction may include several topics in cow herd health, nutrition, management and reproductive decision making.

VDPAM 422. Beef Cattle Calving.
Cr. 2. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: VDPAM 310; fourth year classification in veterinary medicine
This elective provides students opportunity to assist cow-calf operations with calving in Nebraska, South Dakota or other locations. These operations typically calve 300-1,000 head each spring. Calving experience is not required, but a good understanding of working around cattle is necessary. Students will be actively participating in the day to day, normal calving routine including detecting and sorting off “springers”, calf “watch”, detecting when intervention is needed and assisting delivery, caring for and monitoring newborns and dams for good health and early disease detection, tagging/processing new calves, treating calves needing intervention and performing other routine calving chores. Students need to provide their own transportation to the site and overnight stays at or near the production sites are required. Biosecurity policies require documentation of your presence in the USA 5 days immediately prior to the start of class if international travel has occurred.

VDPAM 450. Disturbances of Reproduction.
Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Third year classification in veterinary medicine
General principles of normal reproductive functions in addition to environment, management and diseases causing disturbances in reproduction.

VDPAM 451. Clinical Embryo Transfer.
Cr. 2. F.S.SS. Prereq: 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 four students per two week session. Biosecurity policies require documentation of your presence in the USA 5 days immediately prior to the start of class if international travel has occurred.

VDPAM 471. Theriogenology: Food Animal.
Cr. 2. Prereq: Fourth year classification in veterinary medicine.
Elective clinical assignment in Food Animal and Small Ruminant Theriogenology involving male and female breeding soundness exams, dystocia management, advanced diagnostic procedures, surgical and nonsurgical insemination programs in small ruminants, and semen cryopreservation. Medical and surgical correction of reproductive disorders in cattle and small ruminants.