Animal Welfare Judging Competition Adds Veterinary Student Division, USA

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 21 Mar 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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For the first time, veterinary students participated in the Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition, highlighting the increased attention veterinarians are receiving for their role in ensuring animal welfare.

Now in its seventh year, the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition was originally created to help students enrolled in undergraduate animal science programs understand the importance of animal welfare in agricultural systems. The contest has since been expanded to cover a multitude of species, and this year's event challenged both animal science and veterinary students with scenarios involving dogs, gestating sows, aquaculture and livestock auctions. Students assessed these scenarios and presented their evaluations to a team of judges. Awards were given based on the top three individual scores plus the highest team score.

Dr. Gail Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division, helped coordinate the veterinary division of the competition. The AVMA provided a grant to Michigan State University, which hosted the event, to help cover travel expenses for judges, trophies for winners, and expenses associated with the production of promotional materials. To encourage participation, the AVMA also provided travel grants for veterinary students.

"This competition helps teach students how to approach animal welfare issues comprehensively, objectively and effectively," Dr. Golab said. "They learn very quickly that they have to pay attention to a multitude of factors - science, social expectations, and practical realities - if they want to be successful."

Three Canadian veterinary colleges - Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Atlantic Veterinary College, and Ontario Veterinary College - participated in the team and individual competitions, while the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine was represented in the individual competition.

Atlantic Veterinary College won the veterinary team competition, while Atlantic's Christy Coulson took home top honors in the individual category.

For more information on the Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition, contact Dr. Gail Golab at 847-285-6618 or ggolab@avma.org.

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 76,000 member veterinarians engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.