Food Animal Production Medicine
University of Wisconsin – School of Veterinary Medicine

Clinical Rotations

Clinical Rotations offered to 4th year students offers hands on experience with problem solving on commercial dairy farms.

  • Nutrition
  • Housing
  • Milk Quality
  • Calf Management
  • Transition Cow Management

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Dairy Skills I

  • First clinical rotation in Dairy Skills series

    • 2023-2024

  • July 10 – July 21, 2023
  • August 7 – August 18, 2023

    • 2024-2025

  • July 8 – July 19, 2024
  • August 5 – August 16, 2024
Week 1 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Introductions: Rotation Schedule, Expectations, Get Acquainted
  • Microsoft Teams Intro
  • Introduction to Herd Monitors
  • DHIA Records
  • Bovine Reproductive Physiology Review
Day 2
  • Estrus cycle manipulation and palpation wet-lab
  • Review DHIA Herd Summaries
  • Cow-side and herd-based testing
  • Animal Welfare and Practice Models
Day 3
  • Group A – On-farm palpation lab
  • Groups B & C – Excel Basics I
  • Groups B & C – DC305 Introduction
  • Groups B & C – DC305 work – top level monitors, transition, udder health, repro, egraph
  • Common drug indications for adult cows
Day 4
  • Group B – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A – Excel Basics I
  • Groups A  – DC305 Introduction
  • Groups A & C – DC305 work – top level monitors, transition, udder health, repro, egraph
  • Injury Scoring
  • Lameness: Locomotion Scoring, Hoof Trimming
Day 5
  • Group C – On-farm palpation lab
  • Groups A & B – DC305 work – top level monitors, transition, udder health, repro, egraph
  • Summarize and Review Top Level Monitors for All Herds
  • Fresh cow diagnostics and treatment protocols – Prep for Fresh Pen Visit
Week 2 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Group A – On-farm palpation lab
  • Groups B & C – Introduction to the Data Set
  • Groups B & C – Basic Statistics Videos
  • Groups B & C – Develop Hypotheses and Conduct Statistical Testing
  • Feeding Management and Nutritional Troubleshooting – Farm Visit
Day 2
  • Visit Fresh Cow Pen – Group 1
  • Visit Fresh Cow Pen – Group 2
  • Return from Fresh Cow Visit – Online meeting to start data analysis
Day 3
  • Group B – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A – Introduction to the Data Set, Basic Statistics Videos, Develop Hypotheses and Conduct Statistical Testing
  • Groups C – Continue Statistical Testing, Finish and Present Testing Results
  • Treatment and Vaccination Strategies in Dairy Calves
Day 4
  • Group C – On-farm palpation lab
  • Groups A & B – Continue Statistical Testing, Finish and Present Testing Results
  • Group 1: Obstetrics
  • Group 2: Captive Bolt
  • Group 1: Captive Bolt
  • Group 1: Obstetrics
Day 5
  • Groups Present Fresh Pen Visit and Risk Analysis
  • Complete on-line evaluations and turn in laptop computers and iPads

Dairy Skills II

  • Second clinical rotation in Dairy Skills series. Prerequisite: Dairy Skills I

    • 2023-2024

  • October 16 – October 27, 2023
  • November 27 – December 8, 2023

    • 2024-2025

  • October 14 – October 25, 2024
  • November 11 – November 22, 2024
Week 1 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Introduction and summarize schedule and course expectations
  • Repro disease review / vaccines
  • Vaccination protocols
Day 2
  • Group A – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group B & C – Excel Exercise 2
  • Group B & C – Partial budget introduction
  • Synchronization program topics
  • Transition Cow Risk Assessment (TCRA)
Day 3
  • Group A – Farm A Visit – TCRA
  • Group B – Farm B Visit – TCRA
  • Summarize Farm A/B visit data – worktime
Day 4
  • Group B – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A – Excel Exercise 2
  • Group A – Partial budget introduction
  • Group C – Partial budget work time
  • Final Prep for TCRA presentations
  • TCRA Presentations
Day 5
  • Group C – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A & B – Partial budget work time
  • Parlor assessment approach – milking routines, procedure timing, teat scoring, machine testing
Week 2 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Group A – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group B & C – Partial budget work time
  • Prepare for calf herd investigation
Day 2
  • Visit Calf Herd
  • Visit Calf Herd
  • Calf investigation data analysis and report preparation
Day 3
  • Group B – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A & C – Partial budget work time
  • Final calf report preparation
  • Calf investigation report and discussion
Day 4
  • Group C – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A & B – Partial budget work time
  • Abortion submission review lab – WVDL
Day 5
  • Present Partial Budgets
  • Feeds laboratory – sampling, visual evaluation, forage particle length, etc.
    at Charmany (by hay barn)

Dairy Skills III

  • Third clinical rotation in Dairy Skills series. Prerequisite: Dairy Skills II

    • 2023-2024

  • April 1 – April 12 2024

    • 2024-2025

  • March 31 – April 11, 2025
Week 1 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Introduction and summarize schedule and course expectations
  • Fresh cow diagnostics and treatment protocols
  • Cow-side and herd based testing
  • Common drug indications and uses for adult cows
Day 2
  • Group 1 – Farm A Visit – Fresh Cow Pen
  • Group 2 – Farm B Visit – Fresh Cow Pen
  • Group 1 – Farm A Visit – Fresh Cow Pen
  • Group 2 – Farm B Visit – Fresh Cow Pen
Day 3
  • Group A – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group B & C – Herd health data / AI tools
  • Work on fresh pen data and report
Day 4
  • Group B – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A & C – Herd health data / AI tools
  • Work on fresh pen data and report
Day 5
  • Group C – On-farm palpation lab
  • Group A & B – Herd health data / AI tools
  • Fresh Cow Pen Presentations
Week 2 AM Topics PM Topics
Day 1
  • Food Armor Training
  • Food Armor Training
Day 2
  • Group 1 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 2 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 3 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 4 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 1 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 2 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 3 – On-farm troubleshooting
  • Group 4 – On-farm troubleshooting
Day 3
  • Herd data analysis
  • Herd data analysis
Day 4
  • Farm Visit – Maternity Pen
  • Calf thoracic ultrasound: #WeanClean
Day 5
  • Herd data analysis
  • Present herd reports and summaries

Other Rotations

Calf Lung Ultra Sound – Instructor: Dr. Ollivett

    2024-2025

  • June 3 – June 7 2024
  • June 24 – June 28 2024

Artificial Intelligence – Instructor: Dr. Doepfer

    2024-2025

  • June 10 – June 21 2024

Applied Epidemiology – Instructor: Dr. Doepfer

    2024-2025

  • September 2 – September 13 2024

Other Institutions

Iowa State University – Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM)

  • For more information contact:

Terry J. Engelken, DVM MS
Veterinary Diagnostics & Production Animal Medicine
1710 Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University, College of Vet. Med.
Ames IA 50011-1250
Phone: 515-294-2192 (O)
Phone: 515-294-1072 (F)
e-mail: engelken@iastate.edu

Kansas State University

University of Minnesota

Cornell Summer Dairy Institute