Disaster - College of Veterinary Medicine - Texas A&M University

Location, location, location. This
may be the mainstay for prime real
estate, but it also can apply to the alma
mater of the majority of Texas licensed
veterinarians and the state’s professional
veterinary organization. Knowledgeable
experts and classroom facilities
also provide a favorable location to
present continuing education lectures.
That is why in the spring of every
year the Texas A&M University College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences (CVM) partners with the
Texas Veterinary Medical Association
(TVMA) to host the TVMA Annual
Conference in College Station, Texas.
“A vast majority of our members
graduated from Texas A&M. There
is something special about getting
OOne communication mission of the
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
(CVM) is to provide animal health
educational opportunities for the local
community. The Second Annual Beef
Cattle Meeting and the Second Annual
Equine Evening at the Expo were two
such events made available to area beef
producers and horse enthusiasts. These
events addressed key issues affecting
beef production as well as equine
health and technological advances.
The 2nd Annual Beef Cattle Producers
Meeting, held April 29, provided
a platform for informative and timely
topics for livestock producers. The
two-hour meeting at the Brazos Expo
Center featured presentations from
clinical faculty and invited speakers on
topics, which producers could implement
in their cattle operations.
Dr. John Davidson, clinical assistant
professor of large animal clinical
sciences, chaired the meeting and
presented the topic, “Trichomoniasis-
The Impact on Herd Health and Productivity”.
Beef producers also heard
Dr. Jason Cleere, associate professor
and extension beef cattle specialist,
discussed “Maximizing the Potential of
Your Calf Crop”. A historically timely
topic, “Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cattle:
Why is it so Important?” was presented
by Dr. Juan Romano, associate professor
at the CVM.
“It is always very rewarding to speak
to a group of livestock producers that
our initial veterinary education here
and then coming back home for our
CE,” notes Dr. Lori Teller, President
of TVMA and a CVM graduate. “We
also enjoy the time we get to spend
with each veterinary class and love to
interact with future colleagues. TVMA
greatly appreciates our continued
relationship with the CVM and looks
forward to every visit we spend there.”
The 2010 TVMA Annual Conference,
held March 5–7 at the CVM,
provided licensed veterinarians and
their support staff a choice of quality
lectures. Topics covered medical
diseases and concerns for companion
animals, food animals, horses, and
cervids (deer, elk, and moose). Speakers
from the Texas Veterinary Medical
College News
TVMA Annual Meeting held at CVM in March
have such an interest in learning and
making improvements in their operation,”
notes Davidson. “In addition to
producer education, a key goal of this
meeting was to increase awareness of
our clinical services, faculty, and talented
staff to area beef producers.”
While the Beef Cattle Meeting was
organized by the CVM, An Equine
Evening at the Expo, held March 23,
was a joint effort of the CVM, the Texas
A&M University Department of Animal
Science Equine Section, and the
Brazos Extension Horse Committee.
This meeting was organized to educate
equine owners and enthusiasts residing
in the greater Brazos Valley area.
Guest speaker, Dr. Katrin Hinrichs,
Patsy Link Chair in Mare Reproductive
Studies and professor of both veterinary
physiology & pharmacology and
large animal clinical sciences, gave
a presentation entitled “Horse Cloning—State
of the Art.”
Hinrichs noted technological
advances that now promote cloning as
a viable means to preserve for future
breeding generations the equine genetics
of great competitive horses that
are often gelded before their athletic
prowess can be discovered. Hinrich explained
that cloning is also a powerful
research tool which can help scientists
find cures for equine diseases by isolating
and studying the effects of genetics
and environment.
Other equine health topics discussed
included “Piroplasmosis and Your
Diagnostic Lab (TVMDL) presented
information to help practitioners in
their diagnosis of toxins and endocrine
imbalances. The TVMDL director,
Tammy Beckham, discussed diagnostic
technologies for veterinary laboratories
of the future.
The business side of veterinary
medical practice featured discussions
on developing, growing and buying/
selling a veterinary practice as well as
practice management.
Ellen Forsythe, TVMA director of
education and meetings, said that the
conference registrants included 341
DVMs, 35 veterinary students, and 92
hospital personnel. Two hundred sixtyeight
TAMU DVM graduates attended
the TVMA Conference this year.
Producers Meetings provide educational opportunities
Horse-What You Need to Know” and
“Hoof Trimming Fundamentals.”
Dr. Tracy Norman, clinical assistant
professor, large animal clinical
sciences, presented information on
piroplasmosis, a tick-borne protozoal
infection of horses that presents as an
acute infection with fever, decreased
appetite, depression, labored or rapid
respiration, and congestion of the
mucus membranes among other symptoms.
She noted that carrier animals
or infected ticks can introduce equine
piroplasmosis into new regions and
this disease is a major constraint to the
international movement of equines.
Jason Maki, CJF, RJF, farrier at the
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital,
presented information on the fundamentals
of equine hoof trimming.
Maki noted that properly trimmed
hooves keep a horse’s feet more sound
and decrease long-term problems.
From beef herd health practices to
fundamental training and new scientific
technology, the subject matter
presented to local beef cattle producers
and equine enthusiasts addressed
current industry issues and techniques.
Educational opportunities such as
these provide area livestock owners
with valuable information they can use
to help improve their cattle and horse
operations.
CVM Today • Summer 2010 • 25