Veterinary Guidelines for Livestock
(Cattle, Goats, Horses, Sheep and Swine)
Questions regarding the health and well-being of any animal will be addressed to the Clinical Veterinarian or veterinary staff for the particular facility. Guidelines in the “Herd/Flock Health Program”, compiled for each facility, will be followed by the Facility Manager, who will document in the medical record the observation of any abnormality noted as well as any follow-up observations, treatments and dispositions (such as euthanasia). If more than an occasional animal is affected, or animals show unexpected adverse signs from experimental manipulations, the Clinical Veterinarian or veterinary staff and must be contacted. If it is the result of an experimental manipulation the campus Attending Veterinarian must also be contacted.
Consultations with the Clinical Veterinarian or veterinary staff will be recorded in the facility medical records. Medical records will be available to the Clinical Veterinarian and Attending Veterinarian. The Clinical Veterinarian, VMTH Field Service, and the Campus Veterinary Services (CVS) as well as facility staff provide veterinary care for livestock at UC Davis.These components must be available to all investigators on the University of California, Davis campus to ensure animal welfare and regulatory compliance.
The Clinical Veterinarian for each animal facility will visit the facility under his/her charge at least quarterly, more frequently if circumstances call for it, to make observations and to consult with the Facility Manager on herd/flock health and veterinary care. The Attending Veterinarian and Clinical Veterinarian will complete a walk-through of the animal facility at least semi-annually for discussion of veterinary care issues at the facility.
The attached Herd/Flock Health Program include common procedures and maladies encountered in a livestock herd/flock setting that may be performed or treated by the Facility Manager or other properly trained personnel. The problem, procedure and/or treatment must be recorded in the medical record. The Clinical Veterinarian or veterinary staff will be contacted immediately if an animal shows severe signs of any kind, or appears moribund and cannot be euthanized quickly. Conditions not outlined in the document require consultation with the Clinical Veterinarian or veterinary staff.