USDA FSIS Field Operations, OH

Description of Elective Experience: 

Assist in the examination of livestock and poultry for the purpose of detecting diseases or abnormalities which would render the meat unfit for human food purposes. Work with line inspectors to perform visual, tactile and incisory inspections of heads, viscera, carcasses, and edible offal.

• Assist a program veterinarian in making dispositions on abnormal animals, carcasses, or birds retained for veterinary examination. These dispositions will include infectious diseases, neoplasms, trauma, contamination, poisonings, residues, metabolic disorders, etc.

• Assist a program veterinarian in performing activities to verify that animals are handled and treated humanely.

• Observe conditions in the plant to ensure that sanitary conditions meet prescribed requirements.

• Observe conditions in the plant to ensure the plant is following its Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs).

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.: 

The student will  be provided with all equipment and will be working with inspection personnel such as Consumer Safety Inspectors and Public Health Veterinarians as stated above.

The student will be travelling to different meat and poultry slaughter/processing establishments within the Columbus circuit, occasionally visiting other facilities outside of the circuit

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

The student is expected to work Monday through Friday, 8 hour shifts  (40 hours/ week) during the duration of this  internship. The time will be spent shadowing the Public Health Veterinarian/ Consumer Safety Inspector(s) and with actual on-line work.

Supervisor: 
Glenn S. Escape, DVM
Contact email: 
Address: 
The Ohio State University Meat Laboratory
2029 Fyffe Rd
Columbus, OH 43210
United States
Practice or Institution Type: 
Is student housing available?: 
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40