The DFSL at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching & Research Center


The DFSL at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center obtains its special niche from the fact that the laboratory and its personnel are in the heart of California's dairy country. Therefore, we are able to perform field research on modern commercial dairies and obtain data directly from these sites. In addition, we are able to have direct access to veterinary students and residents in training from all over California, the United States, and the world that are dedicated to dairy practice, as well as international visitors focused upon dairy production medicine.

The VMTRC DFSL has been instrumental in producing technology transfer information on diagnostic testing for Mycoplasma mastitis. Two forums were held in 1997 on this subject: 1) for California veterinarians (n=40) and 2) veterinarians and producers (n=75) that presented a thorough series of discussions on the diagnostic techniques for Mycoplasma mastitis, the economic impact on the profits of dairies, and how to manage the dairy to eliminate this costly form of mastitis. Other such public service activities are planned for 1997-98. We work closely with the VMTRC Milk Quality Laboratory that processes 30,00 milk samples per year for mastitis diagnosis.

  • DFSL Teaching and Training Activities at the VMTRC

    • This laboratory was started in October of 1996 and was officially dedicated December 16, 1996. Paul Rossitto is the Staff Research Associate that moved from Davis and works in the lab on a daily basis. He has a long history of research accomplishments, student/staff training, and collaborative activities. He has spent the last several months getting the VMTRC Dairy Food Safety Laboratory up and running. There are several projects underway and two projects have been completed that will result in technology transfer and publications in 1997-98.

    The Dairy Food Safety Lab at the VMTRC is now a site for conducting clinical vaccine trials due to the large presence of the dairy industry in Tulare County. One trial for a major animal health company has been completed at a local calf ranch. The DFSL was chosen because of the ability to quickly provide a large number of animals of the appropriate age and condition. The DFSL at the VMTRC is currently conducting other J-5 vaccine trials to develop safe products for calves.

    After their exposure to the DFSL at the VMTRC, two of the high school interns decided to to pursue careers as food-animal veterinarians, and are currently enrolled at UC Davis for their undergraduate training. Both have expressed an interest in working for the DFSL at UC Davis. By the end of 1997-98 school year, eight new Tulare area high school students will have been exposed to the dairy industry through the Dairy Food Safety Laboratory and the Milk Quality Laboratory at the VMTRC.

    The Dairy Food Safety Laboratory recognizes the major contributions of our studnets and is committed to continually aiding this major resource for the dairy industry. It is also clear that this opportunity to work in the DFSL has been a positive lifetime experience for the participants.

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