TELUS Agriculture food animal veterinary student externship in Alberta
Each fall, TELUS Agriculture welcomes fourth-year veterinary students to participate in one-week long feedlot externships, combining complementary field and classroom activities. Developed by our experienced team of veterinarians and PhD animal scientists, the externship provides a unique opportunity to enhance students’ school-based education.
Our goal is to provide a focused and cutting-edge externship in a private veterinary business that helps students gain real-world experience, valuable insights and practical skills that will benefit them in their future careers.
About the externship
During the externship, students will participate in engaging classroom sessions that cover a wide range of topics related to feedlot medicine, production, management, and business at our Okotoks, Alberta office. This will be complemented by field activities that give hands-on experience in performing select animal health and veterinary procedures and provide insights into day-to-day feedlot operations and the production system.
Some topics we cover
Sick animal disease detection
Developing disease prevention strategies
Field necropsy techniques
Feedlot nutrition
Performance enhancement products
Feedlot epidemiology
Cow/calf consulting
Management of chronically ill animals
The business of producing beef
Data-based decision making
The TELUS Agriculture business model
Animal welfare in the feedlot
Cattle procurement and marketing methods
The role of the veterinarian as a leader in the beef business
Employment as food animal veterinarian
Students also have the opportunity to participate in targeted discussion sessions with our veterinarians, production consultants and team members as well as feedlot personnel.
The externship typically runs in three one-week-long sessions during the last week in October and the first two weeks in November. We partner with seven universities (University of Calgary, University of Guelph, Université de Montréal, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Saskatchewan, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine), which select up to four students each to join a weekly program. We also offer up to four wildcard spots per week (12 spots total) for students from any university.
How to apply for a wildcard spot
Students interested in applying as a wildcard can contact us to receive an application form. Interested veterinary students must then submit the completed application form, along with a resume and letter of interest. Wildcard selections will be made on or before May 1st of the corresponding year.
Start your application
Apply now for an incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge, gain practical skills and make valuable connections in the field of feedlot veterinary medicine.
