News Release
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Contact: Ben Richey |
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Vet
Schools
to
Re-shape
Curricula to
Meet 21st ST. PAUL, Minn.—The unique
challenges facing animal agriculture in the 21st century such
as bioterrorism and zoonotic diseases as well as new technologies require
schools of veterinary medicine to prepare their graduates to do more
than “simply treat animal diseases” according to Dr. Bennie I. Osburn,
Dean of the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine. Osburn
delivered the
keynote address to the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) at
its annual meeting last week. Dr. Osburn cited the fact that
only 70 veterinarians are responsible for nine billion head of poultry, 75
veterinarians look after 120 million head of hogs and 75 for 30 million
head of beef cattle. Dr. Osburn further points out that
with the large concentration of animals in various areas, emerging new
diseases such as avian flu and BSE as well as the treat of bioterrorism,
veterinarians today need a different skill set. “They need to be able to help their clients set
up biosecurity plans and procedures,” said Osburn. “They need to be
able to help their clients train employees in not only executing
biosecurity procedures but in recognizing and treating animals.
Often these employees speak little or no English.” “Technology, whether it is an
environmental monitoring system in a poultry facility or a data
transmission and storage system or GPS system, requires today’s vet to
be technically savvy and up-to-date,” he says. More than 400 animal agriculture professionals and officials,
from the U.S. and abroad, attended the 2005 NIAA Annual Meeting, a record
attendance for the second straight year. The National Institute for Animal
Agriculture began operations in January 2000.
NIAA's mission is to provide a forum for building consensus and
advancing solutions for animal agriculture and to provide continuing
education and communication linkages for animal agriculture professionals. The organization is dedicated to
programs that work towards the eradication of diseases that pose a risk to
the health of animals, wildlife and humans; promote a safe and wholesome
food supply for our nation and abroad; and promote best practices in
environmental stewardship, animal health and well-being. Members include professionals
engaged in animal agriculture including producers, veterinarians,
scientists, government representatives and business executives. #
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