Agricultural News
Dr. Rosslyn Biggs is Settling Into Her Dual Role as Beef Cattle Extension Specialist and Director of Continuing Education for OSU's Center for Veterinary Services
Thu, 22 Aug 2019 14:17:50 CDT
A little more than a month ago, Rosslyn Biggs, DVM took on the role as the new director of continuing education and beef cattle extension specialist at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Services. She comes to the center with 14 years of veterinary experience in large animal practice and public service. Dr. Biggs told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network"s Farm Director Ron Hays that approximately fifty percent of her appointment is as Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. This is first time in several years that this veterinary extension role has been filled at OSU.
In the role she accepted back on July 19th, Biggs will work closely with extension specialists in the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and with the center's Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences providing oversight for the quality, effectiveness and progress of their missions of continuing education and extension. Prior to joining OSU Biggs worked as assistant veterinarian in charge at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Biggs and Hays talked about the unique challenge she has taken on that straddles the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences with the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources- in other words- the OSU Vet School and the OSU Extension Service. They talked about her new role, as well as several trending topics impacting food animals and the equine industry today. Dr. Biggs offered her insights on the evolving conversation over cattle traceability- and the direction that USDA wants to take the beef industry when it comes to electronic ear tags.
She also offered an update on vesicular stomatitis that continues to be found across the central and western parts of the US. One case has been confirmed as positive in Tillman County in southwest Oklahoma- that in a adult horse. This is the first case in Oklahoma since the 1990s. VSV is a viral disease affecting horses and all clovened-hooved animals.
VSV does not typically cause death in animals, and human infection is rare. Clinical signs are most commonly seen in horses and cattle and include: excessive salivation, decreased appetite, fever, vesicles (blisters) or sores in the mouth and on the lips, lameness and sores or crusts on the underline and legs. Dr. Biggs says staying on top of VSV is especially important given that its symptoms are very similar to what might be seen if an animal had FMD- Foot and Mouth Disease. She urges that cattle and horse owners monitor their animals, particularly if they have been transported to or from a show or rodeo, and if any symptoms are noticed- that they contact their veterinarian immediately.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the full conversation of Hays and Dr. Biggs.
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