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Food Animal Practice Study & Reading Guide

Congratulations on your decision to pursue certification by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Inc. in the Food Animal Practice category! This study guide has been prepared to help you create an efficient and productive learning experience as you formulate your plan of study.

Also, be sure to review the general study recommendations for all ABVP Practice Categories.

Planning is critical! Most successful applicants prepared for a year prior to the exam, with specific time set aside for study. Study guidelines for all candidates emphasize the importance of a specific plan of study with weekly and monthly objectives. You should review these general guidelines as you begin formulating your plan.

One of the goals of ABVP certification is to affirm to ourselves and the discerning public that we have already achieved significant expertise in our fields. However, we all have our strengths and weaknesses in practice dictated by our specific interests. Certification in a "general" specialty such as Food Animal Practice may require more study outside our specific field of interest.

Begin formulating your plan of study by considering the following practice objectives outlined for the Food Animal Practice category. Can you meet these objectives in all the common food animal production groups (dairy, beef cow/calf, feedlot, sheep, goats, swine)? If not, you know where to begin!

General Practice Objectives:

A food animal practitioner seeking certification by the ABVP would be expected to:

1. Have a working knowledge of the basic anatomy and physiology of all food animal species, with special focus on the reproductive and digestive systems.
2. Understand the pathophysiology of important diseases of food animal species.
3. Have a solid foundation in pharmacology, immunology, pathology, and toxicology and be able to apply the principles of these disciplines in food animal medicine.
4. Perform a thorough physical examination of an individual food animal patient. Be able to interpret the findings correctly; make up a rational therapeutic plan; and be able to carry out this plan.
5. Be able to perform surgical procedures common to each food animal species.
6. Perform a necropsy on any of the food animal species and be able to interpret the findings correctly.
7. Be familiar with various production schemes for the different food animal species.
8. Recommend a comprehensive herd health and basic nutrition program for each of the food animal species.
9. Be able to carry out an investigation of a herd problem and apply epidemiologic principles.
10. Be computer literate and have some familiarity with the applications of software programs commonly used by various production groups.
11. Have a good understanding of the public health concerns and residue avoidance programs for each production group.

Once you've identified your areas of weakness and strength, you should allocate your study time accordingly, being sure to consider the examination blueprint as well. For instance, you may find that you know very little about adrenal diseases of the gestating sow; but when you review the exam blueprint (and your own common sense!) it's clear little study time is needed for this area. For most food animal species, the reproductive and digestive systems are the big areas of focus.

Most candidates have graduated at least 6 years ago and a review of anatomy, physiology, and basic disease pathophysiology is necessary. Guyton's physiology text (probably a newer edition of the one you used in vet school!) is a great place to start. A good pharmacology text such as Booth and McDonald and Tizard's Veterinary Immunology should be on hand as well. When reviewing a certain disease, be sure you understand all aspects--from anatomy to pathophysiology to treatment to prevention. I find this to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the entire certification process ("Now I understand why dairy cows on anionic salts should have acid urine!").

With a year set aside for study, you should set up a specific plan on a calendar. Most successful candidates have found it necessary to study on a regular basis over an extended period (for instance, 1-3 hours per day for a year), rather than in shorter concentrated periods. However, you may want to schedule some vacation time in the 2-3 weeks preceding the exam to review and reinforce areas of difficulty.

Successful Food Animal candidates have suggested a list of texts, periodicals, and continuing education opportunities that have been found to be useful, many of which you may already have. Good luck!

Texts:

Veterinary Medicine - Radostits, Blood, Gay

Large Animal Internal Medicine - Smith

Current Therapy in Food Animal Practice - Howard

Diseases of Swine - Leman, Straw, et al

Diseases of Sheep - Kimberling

Goat Medicine - Smith and Sherman

Current Therapy in Theriogenology - Morrow

Theriogenology - Roberts

Herd Health/Food Animal Production Medicine - Radostits

Periodicals:

Compendium on Continuing Education

Vet Clinics of North America Food Animal Practice

JAVMA

AABP publications

National Mastitis Council proceedings

Veterinary Medicine

Continuing Education:

AABP

ABVP Practitioner's Symposium—has Food Animal Track every year

Small ruminant and swine meetings

Western States meeting

Questions on the examination may be taken from sources other than this list.