Unit of Study VMED3004 Applied Cattle Medicine and Surgery (2026)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Science and Engineering
Placement

No

Pre-requisites

VMED3003 - Applied Equine Medicine and Surgery AND VMED3002 - Applied Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
Co-requisites

VMED3005 - Population Medicine, VPH and One Health

Enrolment information

1. To pass the unit, students must submit all assessment tasks. 2. Attendance: It is important to recognise the relationship between attendance, participation, student success and retention. Please take advantage of all classes and engagement activities as it will increase your opportunity for learning, progression in the course, and success as a veterinarian. For units with practicals and other learning activities that directly relate to developing AVBC day one competencies that are required for veterinary accreditation, attendance is required. These will be identified within each unit and attendance requirements clearly communicated to students.

Unit description

This unit provides Year 4 veterinary students with theoretical and hands-on clinical training in bovine medicine and surgery and herd health practices, building upon systems knowledge to develop essential diagnostic, therapeutic, and professional clinical skills. Through immersive case-based learning and practical experiences, students will refine their ability to assess and manage common diseases, applying logical clinical reasoning to formulate evidence-based diagnostic and treatment plans. Students will engage with real-world clinical cases, discussing clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic interventions while integrating reflective practice to enhance their clinical decision-making. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting diagnostic test results and applying them effectively in inpidual and herd health management. Additionally, this unit fosters the development of teamwork and communication skills, essential for working in a veterinary clinical team. Students will collaborate with peers and mentors to discuss case management strategies, justify clinical decisions, and communicate findings clearly and professionally. By completing this unit, students will gain the confidence and competence required for bovine clinical practice, preparing them for clinical rotations in rural practice undertaking medicine, surgery, and broader veterinary professional settings.

Unit content

Diseases of the lactating dairy cow
Periparturient and neonatal disorders
Mastitis and udder health
Diseases in intensive beef production systems
General bovine medicine – infectious, genetic, and zoonotic diseases
Bovine surgery, anaesthesia, and integration into rural practice

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2026

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

analyse and differentiate between the clinical presentations, pathophysiology, and risk factors of common bovine diseases across dairy and beef systems, including metabolic, infectious, neonatal, and production-related disorders

evaluate diagnostic results, therapeutic options, and herd-level data to develop evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies for individual and population-level bovine health management

perform and justify appropriate surgical procedures, anaesthesia protocols, and pain management strategies in cattle, demonstrating consideration for animal welfare, procedural safety, and production implications

create and communicate integrated clinical management plans that synthesise medical, surgical, biosecurity, and herd health considerations, while demonstrating professionalism, ethical reasoning, and effective client and team communication in rural veterinary practice.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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