Non Technical Summary
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) has trained more than 70% of the nation's African-American veterinarians, and seeks to advance food animal medicine by expanding food animal welfare and reproduction training- skills essential for successful rural veterinary practice. Despite its success in graduating veterinarians from underserved communities, TUCVM students have expressed concern regarding the level of exposure to food animal veterinary training and their hands-on experiences. Therefore, the overarching goal of the proposed project is to stimulate interest and prepare well-trained TUCVM students for careers in livestock veterinary practice by expanding food animal welfare and reproduction training.Specific objectives are to (1) Strengthen the food animal welfare program by enhancing curriculum and student experiential learning, and (2) Strengthen the food animal reproduction program by enhancing curriculum and student experiential learning. Enhancing experiential learning will involve strengthening services to rural farmers in Alabama and supporting externship programs at three other veterinary colleges (Universityof Minnesota, Iowa State and Univ. of Guelph), whose experts will participate in training students and updating curricula. The project will directly advance TUCVM capacity to deliver food animal medicine training and enhance hands-on experience of students. We anticipate that the proposed activities will not only improve the quality of the TUCVM program, but also stimulate interest and preparedness of TUCVM graduates to join food animal medicine to practice in rural areas and advanced private practice establishments, hence contributing to alleviate shortage of veterinarians in the area- a program goal for USDA/VSG program.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
311	3440	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3440 - Meat, dairy cattle;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of the project is to stimulate interest and prepare well-trained TUCVM students for careers in livestock veterinary practice by expanding food animal welfare and reproduction training.Specific objectives are to (1) Strengthen the food animal welfare program by enhancing curriculum and student experiential learning, and (2) Strengthen the food animal reproduction program by enhancing curriculum and student experiential learning.

Project Methods
The activities and methods toaccomplish the project include:1.Curriculum Enhancement (review and update the curriculum to include more in-depth courses on food animal welfare management, and animal reproduction/theriogenology, by consulting with experts),2. Practical Training, Guest Lectures and internships (by establishing more partnerships with local farms and ranches where TUCVM students can gain hands-on experience with food animals under the supervision of experienced veterinarians, schedulingguest lectures and workshops by invitingspecialistsin food animal welfare and health, and reproduction),3. Externships: Develop a structured internship/externships program that provides students with the opportunity to work in a professional setting, focusing on food animal practice.4. Launch and support animal Welfare Club, the Tuskegee University Animal Welfare Club (TUAWC)