Thomas Duff

I am currently a third-year student at the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine following a food animal production track. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science/Pre-vet from the University to Minnesota-Twin Cities, and I was accepted into veterinary school through the VetFAST program. Upon receiving my DVM, I plan to become a bovine practitioner and certified bovine embryologist in Minnesota or a bordering state. I hope to join a practice that will provide a mix of cow/calf, feedlot, and dairy clients; however, I am open to working with other food animals in addition to cattle. I recognize that the shortage of food animal veterinarians provides a great opportunity to build a successful career. The cattle and veterinary experiences that I have obtained through work with my own farm, Blood Dairy LLC, the Worthington Veterinary Medical Center, the College of Veterinary Medicine-Bovine Blood Lab, Davis Family Dairies, Riverview LLP, Wulf Cattle, and the University of Minnesota Beef Research and Outreach Center will enable me to have a smooth transition into practice. As a veterinarian, I will not only be able to support my clients with my services, but I will also support the industry by using my role as a veterinarian to advocate for food animal agriculture. When I join a bovine practice, I will initially get to know clients through basic ambulatory services such as palpation and surgeries. During these farm calls, I will gain their respect and trust as they see that I am competent. These farm calls will provide the opportunity to start conversations related to my recommended practice improvements resulting in short- and long-term benefits. With experience, I will be able to take on more consulting roles, which will complement my basic services. Consulting experience will also be beneficial when aging starts to limit the physical work that I can do as a general bovine practitioner. I will be looking for a practice that has the demand for growth of their current embryo transfer service, or a practice that is seeking to develop this service by hiring an embryologist. I am interested in becoming an embryologist because I foresee more livestock producers adopting this advanced reproductive technology. This skill set could make me and my practice more marketable, allowing us to attract new clients. Currently, there is only one certified bovine embryologist in the state of Minnesota. I would like to be a part of the livestock industry’s movement towards greater efficiency and sustainability, and embryo transfer can contribute to this movement. As a long-term goal, I am considering having my own veterinary practice. This could possibly be achieved by purchasing into an existing practice. The livestock industry has given me a great appreciation for food animal veterinarians, and the cattle industry sparked my interest in pursuing this career. After spending many hours riding along and assisting bovine practitioners, I can truly see myself succeeding in this field.