OSU-trained veterinarians prove vital to food production supply chain

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu

Less than 2% of the global population is responsible for feeding the world, which becomes increasingly daunting as Earth anticipates an increase of 1.8 billion people by 2050. 

This surge demands not only more grain and crops but also a significant rise in livestock production. Farmers work tirelessly to nurture their animals and cultivate the land, but their success can’t be achieved without a vital partner — veterinarians. 

Veterinarians are often the unsung heroes of food and fiber production, playing a critical role in ensuring livestock health and productivity. 

While farmers tend to their animals daily, veterinary professionals bring specialized knowledge and skills crucial for the animals’ well-being and, by extension, the food supply chain sustainability. They diagnose diseases, implement preventative care and develop protocols that help maintain healthy herds, ultimately safeguarding the food supply for billions.

At Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, training large animal veterinarians has always been a priority. 

“OSU has historically been dedicated to producing practice-ready veterinarians and we have a long history of a good portion of those being large animal veterinarians — equine and food animal both,” said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, a second-generation OSU CVM graduate and CVM director of continuing education. 

Throughout the pre-clinical curriculum, students are exposed to production animal medicine through courses, labs and electives. Dr. Jared Taylor’s Introduction to Food Animal Production Systems is a primary example. The course launched in 2011 and is offered annually to students who have completed their second year of veterinary school. Students visit seedstock, cow-calf, feedlot and cull cow harvest operations for beef cattle as well as dairy and swine sites.

“The course takes students to a variety of animal agriculture production sites across Oklahoma and Texas to acquaint them with modern food animal industries,” Taylor said. “They have an opportunity to interact with progressive producers who describe their typical management approaches, challenges and opportunities to work with veterinarians in improving our food supply.”

Before going on this tour, many students have limited exposure to production animal sites. For many, it may be their first time setting foot in a commercial swine unit. 

“The course focuses on the industries themselves, rather than on veterinary medicine so that students can better understand the context in which management decisions are made so they can be more effective practitioners once they graduate,” Taylor said.

In 2019, the CVM received a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Veterinary Services grant, which led to establishing the Integrated Beef Cattle Program. Practicing veterinarians and current students work side-by-side to foster networking connections and build lasting relationships while expanding their knowledge of beef cattle medicine, practice management and vital leadership skills.

“Students, now more than ever, are looking at the things we offer compared to other colleges across the U.S.,” Biggs said. “They want to see how we can help prepare them for large animal practice, and IBCP uniquely positions our students to gain the hands-on experience and specialized knowledge they need to excel in the field.”

Students like fourth-year Mandy Lawson, an IBCP participant, did not receive exposure to the agriculture industry until later in their education. Lawson comes from a nontraditional agriculture background and wasn’t exposed to agriculture until her freshman year of high school when she joined her school’s FFA chapter. There, she was introduced to showing livestock and saw the difference her local veterinarian made in her projects. 

Since her experiences in FFA and at the CVM, Lawson now plans to practice food animal medicine with a focus on bovine reproduction and technology. Her experiences at the CVM have prepared her to do just that.

“Throughout my time at OSU, I have been able to surround myself with mentors, professors and peers who weren’t only passionate and knowledgeable about livestock and production medicine, but people who were willing to share that with me so I was able to continue growing the passions I had begun to develop,” Lawson said.

Other students have been steeped in traditional agriculture and have always been passionate about large animal medicine. 

“Growing up as a fourth-generation cattle producer, the people who have made the greatest impact on my life have been veterinarians,” said Audrey Heidt, fourth-year student and IBCP participant. “Veterinarians have taken the time to answer many questions from my inquisitive mind and involved me in procedures. Veterinarians were present cheering on our greatest days and sharing empathy on days of sorrow.” 

For students like Heidt, the CVM has capitalized on her passion and background and helped her expand on that. 

“OSU CVM has provided support and guidance from many professors and clinicians with a wealth of knowledge, who not only are teachers in the classroom and clinics but also mentors for life,” Heidt said. “Not only has OSU prepared me with exceptional knowledge, but also provided a multitude of hands-on opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom.”

Similarly, fourth-year student Olivia Ary grew up showing horses and has wanted to be a large animal veterinarian for as long as she can recall. 

Her veterinarians were role models and inspired her to pursue a career path in this area.

“They always put the animal first, were stewards of the Western way of life and were striving every day to bring their best so that we could be our best. Those values translated into my goals as a veterinarian and as a human being,” Ary said.

Ary credits OSU with giving her opportunities to grow and learn more in large animal medicine.

“OSU has given me so many great opportunities to advance my career,” Ary said. “We have wonderful clinicians that give us hands-on labs as part of classes and assist with wet labs for our student clubs.” 

Current veterinarian and recent graduate Dr. Josh Dowdy credits OSU for ensuring he was practice-ready when he obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

“I feel that OSU prepared me well for a career in large animal medicine,” Dowdy said. “I attended Oklahoma State for my undergraduate and veterinary education, and I gained a vast amount of knowledge throughout the entire process.”

Dowdy said he is most appreciative of the relationships he gained along the way. 

“The Cowboy family is very supportive, and I have had numerous conversations with past professors and colleagues about veterinary medicine and life in general,” Dowdy said. “I feel that the people at Oklahoma State University are what make it such a great place to learn and grow.”

Dowdy utilized connections with CVM faculty members, leadership roles in student organizations such as the Production Animal Medicine Society, large animal electives and experiences at the CVM Ranch to prepare him for practice.

“I think large animal veterinarians are in such a unique position to be a vital part of our clients’ lives,” Ary said. “Whether you work with livestock or horses, there is a large group of our clientele that make their living in some way, shape or form with these animals. Ensuring their health and ability to perform whatever job they are intended for is important and rewarding for owners and for us.”

OSU CVM students and alumni are not just learning how to treat animals; they are accepting the challenge of contributing to an industry that feeds the world. 

“I believe veterinary medicine is ultimately a partnership where I can share knowledge and resources with clients in a way that benefits their operations and livelihood,” Lawson said. “My hope is that the personal and professional relationships I develop will serve as a direct avenue to assist and facilitate the production of healthy livestock as we strive to continue feeding a growing population.”

---

Photos by: Taylor Bacon

Story by: Taylor Bacon | STATE Magazine