Sources: Dan Thomson, 785-532-4254, thomson@k-state.edu;
Ruby Mosher, mosherru@k-state.edu; and Craig Pauly, cpauly@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010

VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS RECEIVE HONORS AT BOVINE PRACTITIONERS CONFERENCE

MANHATTAN -- Four students from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine took home an assortment of honors from the recent annual conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners in Albuquerque, N.M.

Benjamin Wileman, a summer 2010 doctoral graduate from Belle Fourche, S.D., was the winner of the conference's 2010 Graduate Research Competition. Fifty-three research summaries were selected for presentation at the conference. Graduate students studying beef and dairy health and well-being in the United States or Canada were eligible to submit abstracts and compete.

Wileman's research involved looking for a novel vaccine technology to control a type of E. coli in beef cattle. If E. coli could be controlled in the animal, there would be less chance of the beef produced by the animal to be contaminated with bacteria. Wileman's major professor was K-State's Dan Thomson, associate professor of clinical sciences. The E. coli research has already led to changes in the industry, according to Thomson.

"Dr. Wileman's research is a continuation of the research from the K-State clinical sciences laboratory which lead to the approval of the first-ever E. coli O157:H7 vaccine in cattle in the United States," Thomson said.

Ruby Mosher, a doctoral candidate in pathobiology, Emporia, finished second in the research competition with her study of the effects of a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug on increasing the welfare of domestic livestock. The drug, Meloxicam, was used to mitigate postsurgical pain in cattle. Preliminary studies have indicated positive effects, Mosher said. Mosher also has won a research grant from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners for $8,500 to conduct further investigation into the usage of Meloxicam in cattle of various ages, on various diets and in various clinical scenarios.

Her farm background proved influential in determining her research. "As a veterinarian, I wanted to increase the options available for alleviating pain in farm animal species," she said. "This not only is beneficial for the animals, but for producers, veterinarians and consumers as well."

Mosher's major professor is Hans Coetzee, associate professor of clinical sciences.

Two graduate students in veterinary medicine were awarded scholarships from Pfizer Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Foundation. Craig Pauly, Manhattan, and Austin Domek, Ypislanti, N.D., each received a $5,000 award plus the cost of travel and lodging to the annual meeting. There were 29 scholarships awarded. Applicants were evaluated on the basis of interest in the bovine practice, involvement in bovine medicine and bovine-related extracurricular activities and writing skills.