UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Veterinarians whose practice centers on food animals can find new techniques and skills to better serve the rapidly changing dairy industry in the eastern United States by attending the Dairy Production Medicine Certificate Program, co-sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

"Dairy operations in Pennsylvania and the Northeast are increasing herd size, yet concentrating the animals on fewer farms," says David Wolfgang, Penn State senior research associate in veterinary science. "That means veterinarians should learn new skills to transform their practice from the traditional focus on individual animal care to a more holistic approach that focuses on collective production and performance -- a 'herd's-eye' view."

The production medicine course, which starts March 9, 2000, comprises 10 three-day workshops spaced over 2 1/2 years. Practitioners will receive intensive instruction on such topics as dairy nutrition, milk quality and safety, reproductive performance, herd expansion, environmental stewardship and impact of facilities on animal health and welfare.

Wolfgang estimates there are 800 veterinarians in Pennsylvania who include large food animals in some part of their practice. Within that number, there are about 250 veterinarians whose primary practice focuses on food animals.

In addition to intensive classroom instruction, the program uses a single case farm where each participating veterinarian can see methods for dairy production medicine applied in real-world situations.

"The farm will be fairly close to the University Park campus, but it must be large enough to give the class a variety of experiences in production medicine," Wolfgang explains. "Serving as a case farm is a real benefit for the producer, since the farm will have between 20 and 30 consultants working collectively to improve herd health and performance."

The class starting in 2000 will be the fourth class since Penn State started the program in 1991. Wolfgang says the current enrollment includes veterinarians from Maryland, Mississippi, Vermont and Pennsylvania.

A new area of instruction is included in the program, Wolfgang says. Instructors from The Smeal College of Business Administration will educate practitioners to better utilize their new skills, make effective presentations and work with clients.

"The trend nationally is moving to larger dairy farms with bigger herds," Wolfgang says. "Even traditional family farms will have to become more efficient to stay in the game. The Dairy Production Medicine Program will allow vets to help farmers become more efficient by moving away from just fixing broken cows to preventing the breakdown in the first place."

The program is open to 25 participants. Registration deadline is Feb. 1, 2000. For registration and tuition information, contact Brenda Dinges, 115 Henning Building, University Park, Pa. 16802.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact David Wolfgang at 814-863-5849.

Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax