Surgical and Anesthetic Procedures Performed in Bovine Practice and Proficiency Expected of New Veterinary Graduates

Abstract

Bovine practice is perceived to be changing, with the emphasis shifting from diagnosis and treatment of disease in individual animals toward enhanced production and disease prevention in herds. Therefore, faculty members at veterinary colleges must periodically ascertain the most relevant procedures and skills for veterinarians entering bovine practice, and adjust curricula accordingly. Of particular concern is ensuring that new graduates are proficient in surgical and anesthetic procedures deemed most important by practitioners, given declining case loads at most teaching hospitals and attempts to find alternatives to live animal surgical laboratories. To assist with curriculum adjustment at the University of Illinois, a mail survey was conducted to determine procedures performed most frequently in bovine practice, and skills expected of new veterinary graduates.