Long-time clients of the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC), Cornell and Teri Kasbergen of Rancho Teresita dairy, have received the 2010 El Blanco Award from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for ongoing contributions to the school's teaching mission and for their role in promoting important advances in animal health and well-being. The Kasbergens were nominated for the award by Terry Lehenbauer, DVM, associate director of the Tulare center, who notes, "Rancho Teresita is valued as one of the most significant dairy herd clients and research collaborators of the VMTRC."

The Kasbergens are one of about ten dairy producers in the region who receive clinical services from Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center faculty and provide teaching opportunities to School of Veterinary Medicine students and others.

Twice-weekly scheduled herd examinations have provided outstanding opportunities for fourth-year veterinary students to learn clinical skills and gain the knowledge in reproductive and transition cow health management that veterinary graduates must demonstrate.

Veterinary residents based in Tulare also benefit from proximity to Rancho Teresita, where they receive advanced training, research opportunities and specialized experience in dairy production medicine.

Among the most progressive large-scale dairies in the United States since 1989, the Rancho Teresita dairy has also participated with the center's faculty in a multitude of research projects and clinical investigations, including the following examples:

• Role of colostrum in calf health and colostrum replacer research
• Efficacy of feed additives
• Evaluation of new pregnancy diagnostic techniques and timed reproductive protocols
• Transition cow health
• Conductive cooling technology for dairy cow heat stress
• Dry cow mastitis prevention therapy

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, celebrating World Veterinary Year, the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France, serves California with teaching, research and service programs benefiting animal health, public health and environmental health. www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu. PD

—From UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine news release

PHOTO
From left: Cornell Kasbergen, Teri Kasbergen, Rancho Teresita; Bennie Osburn, dean, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; Terry Lehenbauer, associate director, Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Tulare, California. Photo by: Don Preisler, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine