Commercial Agriculture Program
Spring 2009
Beth Young fills swine veterinarian vacancy
By Michelle Proctor, Senior Information Specialist
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| Dr. Beth Young |
The University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture Program has employed Dr. Beth Young, DVM, DVSc, of Ontario Canada as the Swine Focus Team veterinarian. She joined the staff on March 15 of this year.
Before coming to the University of Missouri, Dr. Young had been a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario since 2005. She received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology from the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, graduating with honors in 1997.
In 2002 she earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, also at the University of Guelph. Young went on to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Science in Swine Health Management from the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph in 2005. Dr. Young's thesis for her DVSc was "A study of management factors associated with farrowing rate in commercial sow herds in Canada."
She was a guest lecturer at the Commercial Agriculture Program's Swine Institute in Columbia in November, 2008. At the Institute, her topic was identification, management and containment of PRRS and PCV2 diseases in pig herds in Canada. Dr. Young's studies contributed to the development of a vaccine to control the outbreak.
When asked what inspired her to pursue an education in this area, Young replied, "I inherited a passion for teaching from my father. He dedicated his working life to teaching geography to high school students. Teaching swine medicine to veterinary students can be a difficult task. Many students do not come from a rural background, are not interested in practicing swine medicine and, in some cases, come into the classroom already having formed a negative opinion of the swine industry."
Recognizing this, Young included a variety of teaching techniques to help motivate those students wanting to learn the material and also to accommodate different learning styles. She presented case studies for students to work through in order to improve their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
"Part of creating a positive learning environment includes showing respect for the students," said Young. "I want students to feel comfortable and confident enough to ask questions and voice their opinions. This type of interaction has led to many interesting discussions and in many cases, I have learned just as much from these discussions as the students have."
The Commercial Agriculture swine focus team is an interdisciplinary group of economists, engineers, nutritionists, geneticists and veterinary medicine swine specialists who conduct applied research and develop and deliver advanced educational programs and seminars to veterinarians and swine producers.
The swine team also provides producers with on farm assistance in expanding and operating units in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with current DNR regulations.
Dr. Young will be responsible for developing statewide programs related to swine health and reproduction. She will visit swine farms throughout the state to provide consultation on problems and gather data that could be used in solving critical problems facing the swine industry.
"Working with producers through extension will give me the opportunity to take what I have learned to those whose interests are focused and will benefit most," she said. My job will allow me to work with people who will use swine management research directly to improve the health of their herds as well as the health of their business."