Iowa State University veterinary medicine students took high honors at the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition recently. ISU-UNL second-year student Jennafer Glaesemann, Fairbury, Neb., placed first in the individual competition, and Iowa State’s team placed second in the veterinary college competition.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) sponsored the veterinary division of the competition, which was held in November at Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing.

The competition helps veterinary students recognize and develop the analytical skills and understanding of ethics necessary for success in the field of animal welfare. Students must be familiar with physiological and behavioral indicators of animal welfare, and they must be able to evaluate how well a given situation suits the animal.

Students are given two scenarios for each species being judged. They then evaluate the scenarios, prepare an analysis, and give an oral presentation on their ranking. The scenarios are realistic and help prepare veterinary students for the challenges they will face professionally