CABV News

St. Louis, Missouri, September 12, 2019 – Dr. André Desrochers of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec has been named the recipient of the 2019 Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award for his outstanding contributions to the bovine sector and his work to advance animal welfare.

The award is presented annually by the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (CABV) / Association Canadienne des Vétérinaires Bovins (ACVB) in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada. Dr. Desrochers was presented with the award at the 52^nd annual conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners on September 12, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri.

“It is our distinct pleasure to announce Dr. André Desrochers as the recipient of the 2019 Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award,” said Dr. Sherri Christie, President of the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (CABV) / Association Canadienne des Veterinaire Bovins (ACVB).

Dr. Desrochers is the Chair, Department of Clinical Sciences and full professor at the University of Montreal, where he has been a faculty member since 1998. He conducts research into the prevention, recognition and treatment of pododermatitis in cattle in order to improve the lives of cattle. In addition, Dr. Desrochers has authored 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals, written numerous textbook chapters and has spoken at more than 30 national and international conferences and symposia over the last five years.

“Nowadays, animal welfare is the most important concern among consumers, veterinarians and future colleagues,” said Dr. Desrochers. “I was extremely honoured to be nominated for such a significant award, even more as the winner. It is a recognition that I must share with my colleagues at the Université de Montréal, Lactanet and the foot trimmers from the Associations des pareurs d’onglons du Québec (APOQ).

This award will motivate us to continue developing new pain management protocols, improve downer cow handling, find solutions to decrease lameness on farms and so much more. Finally, I am grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim for their constant commitment to improve bovine welfare. Challenges are numerous and all the stakeholders must work together.”

Recognized for his many contributions to the advancement of animal welfare, Dr. Desrochers receives high praise from his peers.

“I have always looked to Dr. Desrochers for his advice, strong work ethic, integrity and tremendous leadership,” said Dr. Paulo Steagall, Associate Professor in Veterinary Anesthesia and Pain Management at the Université de Montréal. “His strong advocacy in the field of animal welfare goes far beyond the academic environment. He always goes the extra mile to reduce stress, maximize comfort and provide the best patient care to farm animals.”

In addition to his contributions as a leader, mentor and educator, Dr. Desrochers is commended for his commitment to ongoing research and developing teaching tools that help advance bovine welfare in Canada and around the globe.

Jeffrey Estabrooks, Business Unit Director (Bovine) with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada, explained the Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award recognizes and encourages those who research and practice animal welfare and well-being.

“We are pleased to present Dr. Desrochers with the 2019 Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award,” Estabrooks said. “Through his leadership, research and development of training and technical teaching tools, Dr. Desrochers has made such a positive impact on the health and welfare of cattle around the globe. He is a strong advocate for animal welfare and we are pleased to recognize his long-standing achievement in advancing bovine welfare.”

Estabrooks thanked the CABV/ACVB for its work to seek nominations and select the recipient of the award.

The Metacam® 20 Bovine Welfare Award is given annually to a DVM or animal scientist working in Canada, a faculty member or a graduate student of a Canadian university to recognize his/her achievements in advancing the welfare of animals via leadership, public service, education, research/product development, and/or advocacy. By doing so, the CABV/ACVB hopes to raise public awareness of the important role veterinarians and animal scientists play in:
• Improving bovine welfare in cattle production and research systems
• Improving scientific methods of measuring bovine welfare

*Registered Tradename: Metacam® 20 mg/mL Solution for Injection
Metacam® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH. abcd

Past Metacam 20 Bovine Welfare Award Recipients

2018 - Dr. Todd Duffield (Ontario)
2017 - Dr. Joyce Van Donkersgoed (Alberta)
2016 - Dr. Ken Leslie (Ontario)
2015 - Dr. Ed Pajor (Alberta)
2014 - Dr. Joseph Stookey (Saskatchewan)
2013 - Drs. Marina von Keyserlingk and Dan Weary (British Columbia)
2012 - Dr. Neil Anderson (Ontario) 

Dr. Gordon Atkins Receives the Inaugural Dr. Brian MacNaughton Memorial Award

Award honours individuals for their significant contributions to veterinary medicine in Canada

Elanco Canada has honoured Dr. Gordon Atkins with the first ever Dr. Brian MacNaughton Memorial Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine in Canada. A veterinarian of over 40 years, Dr. Atkins has served the bovine veterinary industry with distinction through both his own practice and as an educator.

“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Atkins for his contributions to the field of bovine veterinary medicine,” said Katie Cook, General Manager of Elanco Canada. “Renowned for his work locally, nationally, and internationally, Dr. Atkins truly embodies the spirit and purpose of the Dr. Brian MacNaughton Memorial Award.”

Raised on a dairy farm in Alberta, Dr. Atkins received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 1973. Since graduation he has been practicing and teaching veterinary medicine in the Calgary area, with a primary focus on dairy cattle.

Dr. Atkins served on the founding committee of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners and was named a Life Member in 2016. He has received more than 15 separate industry honours, including being named the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian of the Year, the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners Veterinarian of the Year, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Atkins was nominated for this award by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, with letters of support from colleagues across the country.

This award is named in memory of Dr. Brian MacNaughton, an outstanding bovine veterinarian from Ontario, who had the vision of a national bovine veterinary organization that would represent the interests of bovine veterinarians in matters of a national scope.  Dr. MacNaughton passed away in September of 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer.  Presented biennially, Elanco Canada is proud to sponsor this award to recognize and commemorate Dr. MacNaughton’s vision, his spirit, and his passion.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 13, 2018 – Dr. Todd Duffield of Guelph, Ontario was named the recipient of the 2018 Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award for his profound and lasting impact on the well-being of the bovine species. His contributions include an extraordinary commitment to scientific research, teaching, extension education and the mentorship of veterinary students and new scientists.

The award is presented annually by the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (CABV) / Association Canadienne des Vétérinaires Bovins (ACVB) in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Dr. Duffield was presented with the award at the 51st annual conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners on September 13, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“It is our distinct pleasure to announce Dr. Todd Duffield as the recipient of the 2018 Metacam® 20 Bovine Welfare Award,” said Dr. Murray Gillies, President of the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (CABV) / Association Canadienne des Veterinaire Bovins (ACVB)."

Dr. Duffield is the Chair of the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). He has been a faculty member at the university since 2000 and has continued as a practicing clinician, working at OVC’s Ruminant Field Service Veterinary Practice, where he also served as Clinic Head and Service Chief.

Dr. Duffield is a world-class research scientist and has authored or co-authored more than 160 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He was named as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds by Thomas Reuters as a highly-cited researcher.

 “I am extremely pleased and honoured to receive the 2018 Metacam 20^® Bovine Welfare award,” said Dr. Duffield. “It takes a team effort to advance knowledge and understanding through research and our work with dairy cattle welfare is no exception. I am very grateful for the excellent work of my outstanding graduate students and for the sage guidance of my mentors, colleagues and collaborators over my years at OVC. Sincere thanks to the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians for recognizing me with this prestigious award.”

Recognized for his many contributions to the advancement in animal welfare, Dr. Duffield receives high praise from his peers.

“Todd has spent two and a half decades enhancing our knowledge of dairy cattle well-being across a wide variety of impact areas; from metabolic disease control, to prevention of lameness, to pain mitigation, and recently to the selection and preparation of cows to be culled to prevent animal welfare concerns,” said Dr. Ken Leslie, Professor Emeritus, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph. “His research in the area of ketosis in dairy cattle has transformed our understanding and management of this major problem and has directly affected the health of millions of cattle globally.”

In addition to his contributions to scientific research, Dr. Duffield is also commended for his commitment to ensuring the next generations of veterinarians and scientists are knowledgeable and skilled in the areas of food animal medicine and animal welfare.

“Among the reasons Todd has been so effective in identifying and implementing bovine welfare solutions is the fact that he plants one boot in academia, but keeps the other boot firmly planted on the farm,” said Dr. Suzanne Millman, Professor, Animal Welfare, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. “Through his dedication, he shares his knowledge and skills in bovine welfare to producers, senior veterinary students and graduate students.”

Jeffrey Estabrooks, Business Unit Director (Bovine) with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, explained the Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award recognizes and encourages those who research and practice animal welfare and well-being.

“We are thrilled to present Dr. Duffield with the 2018 Metacam^® 20 Bovine Welfare Award,” Estabrooks said. “Through his passion for advancing animal welfare, Dr. Duffield has made significant contributions to the improvement of dairy cattle welfare within Canada and around the world. As a well-respected veterinarian, researcher and educator, he has been able to instill his passion for the advancement of animal welfare in future generations of veterinarians and scientists.”

Estabrooks thanked the CABV/ACVB for its work to seek nominations and select the recipient of the award.

Alberta Beef Producers and the Beef Cattle Research Council have developed a two-page summary to give Canadian cattle producers a heads-up about how upcoming Health Canada and provincial government policy changes will impact over-the-counter antimicrobial access. One side summarizes the upcoming changes (as of Dec. 1^st you will need a vet prescription to access any medically important antimicrobial). The other side lists the cattle (beef and dairy) antibiotics that will be affected by these changes.  

View and download complete PDF

Click here to view CABV/ACVB's Position Statement on "Use of Drugs Without a Drug Identification Number (DIN)"