Option 1: Cow-Calf and Feedlot Production Medicine Externship (2-week blocks offered seasonally)
The primary objective of our ambulatory-based externships is to expose students to the skills and knowledge needed to become a succesful cow-calf and feedlot practitioner. Daily activities will aid in fine-tuning skills necessitated by beef cattle practice and provide the students with an understanding of common needs of clients, key aspects of preventive medicine, and steps necessary to transition to a consulting-based relationship. Students should expect to be in the field daily, accompanying the veterinary team. Skills and competencies we expose our students to include, but are not limited to, individual animal exams and diagnostic testing, palpation and reproductive ultrasound, breeding soundness evaluations, obstetrics, necropsies, feedlot surgeries, disease investigation, data analysis, consulting strategies, and much more. The students will also have the opportunity to learn from various veterinarians and other professionals who are experts in other crucial topics such as nutrition, marketing, and cattle selection, etc. This clinical externship is best suited for 3rd or 4th year students looking to enter a beef cattle practice following graduation or a mixed animal practice with a heavy influence of beef cattle cases.
Option 2: Advanced Beef Production Medicine Rotation (single 2 week block in July)
The primary objective of this competitive rotation is to provide 4th-year veterinary students with the knowledge-base, skill-set, and resources necessary for a successful career as a cow-calf and feedlot practitioner and consultant. Various segments of this rotation are specifically designed to address weaknesses commonly identified by new graduates and their employers (i.e. difficulty conducting risk assessments and formulating customized vaccination protocols, inability to assist with genetic evaluation and selection of sires that complement environmental challenges or marketing opportunities, etc.). Learning modules will be accomplished via wet labs, tours, lectures, investigations, and group discussions. The students will have the opportunity to learn from various veterinarians and other professionals who are experts in preventive medicine, nutrition, management-intensive grazing, marketing, cattle selection, risk management, etc. This non-clinical rotation is ideal for 4th year veterinary students with a keen interest in cow-calf and/or feedlot production medicine and consulting. An invitation to apply will be distributed to students who are registered as student AABP members during the fall of each year. The rotation takes place for 2 weeks each July immediately following the Calgary Stampede.
Being a beef cattle veterinary practice with a strong empahsis on educational partnerships, Veterinary Agri-Health Services is passionate about the sustainability of animal agriculture and the longevity of food animal medicine. As an affiliate member of the University of Calgary, Distributed Veterinary Learning Community, our team consists of individuals who are not only experienced in the field of veterinary medicine, but are invested in the education of future bovine practitioners. We take pride in our ability to host both mandatory and elective student rotations in bovine herd health, reproduction, and general veterinary practice. Currently we employ 8 beef cattle veterinarians and have access to several board-certified specialist through the University of Calgary during weekly rounds. We have equipment typical of an ambulatory beef cattle practice and have direct access to multiple diagnostic laboratories.
Our students are expected to be on site 8:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday but due to the nature of our practice, there is a possibility that some days will run longer. Students are encouraged to participate in daily activities to their fullest potential under the supervision of numerous veterinarians and have the opportunity to also work weekends if seeking additional experience.
The veterinarians at Veterinary Agri-Health Services, Ltd. are commited to helping international students find suitable accomodations at no charge. Students are strongly encouraged to apply to AABP or other funding sources for externship grants to help offset expenses associated with airfare to Calgary, AB, transportation to our office north of Airdrie, AB, food, and other incidental expenses.