By Maci Carter | Radio Oklahoma Ag Network
STILLWATER — Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, a beef cattle extension specialist with the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, recently discussed the 2023 Bovine Health and Technology Summit.
The event was held in Stillwater at the OSU CVM, sponsored by Merck Health and hosted by the OSU Veterinary Medicine Animal Medicine Team and the OSU Extension Service. It reached a large group of individuals from the regional veterinary industry.
“There were about 80 veterinarians from Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana who were with us, as well as about 20 of our current veterinary students who are interested in beef cattle medicine,” Biggs said.
The summit covered a lot of topics concerning the beef industry. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from individuals from different aspects of the beef and animal health industries.
Dr. Derrell Peel, OSU Extension livestock marketing specialist, “gave us an economic outlook that cattle are going to be worth a lot of money,” Biggs said. “New technologies in veterinary medicine in animal health, animal identification, and traceability was a discussion point. We also got updates from our Merck partners” on bovine respiratory disease and invasive parasites.
“We have shortages in many areas of the country and really across food supply veterinary medicine,” Biggs said. “So, we’re trying to encourage future veterinarians to understand what they’re getting into, make them more marketable to the practices that they’re likely to enter after graduation, but also put more tools in the toolkit of veterinary practices.”
The program hosted 20 veterinarians and 20 vet students and allowed them to work together as partners.
“At least anecdotally we’re seeing those connections that are really important in matching veterinary graduates with future employers, but also for those veterinarians who are looking to transition, maybe sell a practice at some point,” Biggs said. “This is giving them the connections they need for individuals who would buy those practices.”
Biggs said this program has been successful for the past two years, “helping people make a lot of connections.” The program will run for at least one more year, but OSU hopes it continues beyond that.
“We are about to welcome our next class of veterinary students,” Biggs said. “Our fourth-year students, in just a couple of months, will be taking their national board exam. From our continuing education standpoint, we will have a fall conference in November for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.” And for the general public an open house is scheduled for Oct. 21.
“I just got back from Washington, D.C., with a group of veterinarians,” she said. “We were on the Hill visiting with our congressional delegation about things that need to change to support those in food supply and veterinary medicine, and in particular those who serve our small-town producers here in Oklahoma.”