Large animal clinical module

Clinical module on ruminants

Students must participate, with Master 3 students, in activities organised within the ruminants' clinic, namely:

• Daily examinations of hospitalised animals, administration of medical treatments and/or care
• Hospital rounds
• Consultation of cases referred to the clinic
• Attend surgery (depending on space being available

Clinical module on pigs

The porcine clinic provides practical training for students in fields related to medicine and management of porcine farms.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

One week is dedicated to the clinical approach to herd medicine, allowing students to grasp its fundamental principles:

• Identifying and managing herd problems on the farm (prevalence, incidence, severity compared to the norm, degree of urgency, and alert threshold) (curative treatment);
• Estimating and limiting economic losses associated with the identified problem, as well as those associated with risk factors;
• Improving the health, zootechnical, and economic performance of a farm (prevention).

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

VETE2085-D: Clinique des animaux de production, Clinique avicole, cunicole, colombophile et préventive, 17,5h Clin.

The poultry, rabbit, pigeon and preventive clinic provides students with practical training in the medical and management aspects of poultry, rabbit and for pigeons (racing pigeons, ornemental and meat pigeons).

Clinical module on ruminants

After the week in individual case clinic, students will be able to independently carry out a general examination as well as special examinations (musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory, neurological, etc.) in ruminants, interpret them and draw conclusions from them. They will thus be able to apply a clinical approach to suggest a diagnosis and prognosis of the cases they encounter during their week. They will also be able to carry out basic acts (see logbook on eCampus) carried out on ruminants.

Clinical module on pigs

The aim of the Swine Clinic is to familiarise you with domestic pigs through seminars and practical, where you will learn how to approach and handle pigs at different stages of production, estimate their weight, take samples, provide care, perform surgery (castration) and/or diagnose pregnancy. These operations will be carried out or demonstrated in a pig farm or in the Skill Lab. You will learn how to observe pigs and detect any clinical signs. You will learn how to calculate the doses of medication to be administered orally and parenterally, and how to prescribe or supply medication by completing the appropriate documents. You will learn about the tasks of a pig vet, such as completing a Sanitel report and, on this basis, determining the number of pigs to be sampled as part of Aujeszky's epidemiosurveillance. You will assess the biosecurity measures in place in a pig farm and suggest actions to improve its level. As a group, you will learn how to solve a clinical case (exercice), complete a request for analyses. You will learn the concepts of forward movement and apply them in a sanitary airlock and in a pig farm.

 

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

At the end of the week, students should be able to:

• Highlight the problem(s) responsible for economic losses relating to the health of the herd but also to the logistical aspect of the operation.
• To address the problems identified in an epidemiological manner and to be able to prioritize them (identify, quantify, and prioritize the causes of the economic losses encountered).
• To carry out and interpret the scoring of cows in a herd (body scores, fecal matter score, cleanliness scores, etc.).
• To interpret the reproductive parameters of a herd and evaluate their economic aspect; to select the animals to be examined during reproductive monitoring.
• To understand how the milking machine works and its importance for breast health.
• To evaluate the environment and housing of a herd of cattle.
• Global approach: soil-plants-animal.
• To carry out an analysis of the 5 rations of a herd of cattle.

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

The aim of the Poultry, Rabbit, Pigeon and Preventive Clinic is to familiarize you with (1) industrial poultry production and backyard birds (mainly Gallus gallus), (2) farmed rabbits and (3) pigeons (racing pigeons, ornamental and meat type) through seminars and/or practical work where you will be confronted with these species.

At the end of the week, students should be able to:

• integrate basic sporting practices in racing pigeons into the broader context of clinical diagnosis or loft monitoring.
• describe the different types of poultry (production type) and rabbit farming and the related issues (farming parameters, zootechnical parameters, etc.) and integrate these rearing practices into the diagnosis and management of the pathologies that will be taught in the VETE2083-A-a course.
• assess the suitability of the environment for a poultry or rabbit flock and the zootechnical parameters.

Clinical module on ruminants

The following classes are pre-requisites:
VETE-2059-1 Veterinary epidemiology, risk analysis, biosecurity and good veterinary practices.
VETE2061-1 - Semiology of production animals
VETE2062-1 - Clinical anatomy and radio-anatomy of domestic animals
VETE2067-1 Principles of exercising veterinary medicine
VETE2071-1 - Infectious and parasitic diseases of production animals and wildlife, including zoonoses
VETE2075-1 - Anaesthesiology of domestic animals
The following course is a co-requisite:
VETE2078-1 - Health management and ruminant production

Clinical module on pigs

Active and effective participation the porcine clinic will give you an analytical knowledge of physiology, general embryology and anatomy and topography of the pig as well as information given during the semiology courses on production animals. Basic concepts of pharmacology, surgery on domestic animals, ethology and ecology applied to domestic animals are also required.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

The prerequisite courses are:

• VETE-2059 Veterinary Epidemiology, Risk Analysis, Biosecurity, and Good Veterinary Practices
• VETE-2061: Semiology of Production Animals
• VETE-0455: General Nutrition and Feeding of Domestic Animals
• VETE-0036-4: Ecology Applied to Domestic Animals
• VETE-0014: Ethology of Domestic Animals
• VETE-2067-1: Principles of Veterinary Practice
• VETE-2074: Quantitative Genetics

• VETE-2078: Management of Ruminant Health and Production

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

In order to be able to participate effectively and actively in the clinic, a synthetic knowledge of the concepts relating directly or specifically to birds and lagomorphs taught in the bachelor's degree courses in physiology, embryology and general and topographical anatomy is compulsory. Basic knowledge of pharmacology, domestic animal surgery, ethology and ecology applied to domestic animals are also required.

The following courses are prerequisites:

• VETE-2059 Épidémiologie vétérinaire, analyse de risques, biosécurité et bonnes pratiques vétérinaires
• VETE-0455 : Nutrition et alimentation générales des animaux domestiques
• VETE-0036-4 : Écologie appliquée aux animaux domestiques
• VETE-0014: Éthologie des animaux domestiques
• VETE-2067-1 : Principes d'exercice de la Médecine Vétérinaire
• VETE2071-1 - Maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (MIP) des animaux de production et de la faune sauvage, including zoonosis
• VETE2073 : Nutrition et alimentation spéciales des animaux domestiques

Clinical module on ruminants

Students will be taught by the individual case clinic team (professors, assistants, interns) and by students in Master 3 for the various activities proposed (cf. "Learning unit contents"). On the first day, there will be a presentation of the clinic and an explanation of the clinical exam will be given specifically for students in Master 2. Every morning, they will also follow a clinical round in order to address and follow the various hospitalised animals and to understand the diagnosis that has been made and how it was made. Students will gradually also participate in clinical rounds organised for students in the Master 3.

Clinical module on pigs

The programme will consist in pig farms visits and/or a practical in the skill lab, seminars, tutorials, a a session dedicated to clinical reasoning.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

Subject to change due to new health measures and/or other logistical constraints, the following will be offered in person (attendance is mandatory):

• Visits to the FEPEX Care Center, led by assistants from the Production Animal Clinical Department, covering:
• Analysis of udder health (analysis of farm data, field sampling, and culture).
• Analysis of the 5 rations.
• Analysis of cow housing and environment.
• Scoring of cattle on the farm.
• An introduction to reproductive monitoring.
• A morning session divided into three parts:
  Discussion on the topic of reproduction, focusing on the reproductive parameters of a farm. Facilitator: Dr. P. Chapaux
  Discussion on livestock farming practices and the role of agriculture in our society. Facilitator: Dr. P. Chapaux
  Training in biosecurity in bovine clinical settings. Supervisor: N. Colemonts

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

The Poultry, Rabbit, Pigeon and Preventive Clinic week comprises 5 mornings, generally organized as described below. Please note that this general organization may be modified according to the needs and/or imperatives of the participants.

The program will be, as far as possible :

Monday

• Venue: FEPEX 09:00 am
• Required clothing: overalls and boots, a clinical gown, and regular clothes. Some activities will take place outdoors regardless of the weather conditions. You must therefore bring clothing suitable for the weather (cold, heat, rain, etc.).
• Do not bring your usual clinical equipment (stethoscope, thermometer, percussion hammer, etc.), as it will not be needed for the planned activities.
• Mobile phones are not allowed during clinical activities and must be left outside the areas where these activities take place.
  
  
• Morning programme:
• Introduction to poultry medicine (08:30-09:45)
• Presentation of the activities scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday (09:45-10:00)
• Introduction to racing pigeons and pigeon medicine (10:00-12:00)
  
  
• In preparation for these activities, students are advised to
• Review all the concepts (anatomy, etc.) taught in the bachelor's degree programme relating to birds
• Familiarise themselves with the documents (specific films, etc.) found in the 'Monday' tab in Ecampus course 2025 - 2026 VETE2085-D-a Production animal clinic, poultry, rabbit, pigeon and preventive medicine clinic
• A group work for Friday will be assigned

• Distance learning virtual farm visits: all files and explanations are available on ecampus in the EU 2026-2027-VETE2085-D-a - Production animal clinic, Poultry, rabbit, pigeon and preventive clinic, 17.5h Cl - File 'Tuesday - virtual farm visits'.
• You must start by reading the document : Visites_virtuelles_elevages_MB2_2026_2027.pdf in which you will find all the explanations you need for this self-study morning. The films that must be watched can be found in the 'films_obligatoires' file. There are 22 short films to be watched (lasting between 1 and 16 minutes), with a total cumulative duration of 1 hour 40 minutes, which is perfectly feasible within the planned timetable of 3.5 hours per clinic morning.
• The other files 'egg production, vaccination and in ovo sexing - poultry meat' are only available if you would like further information.

• Venue: Building B43a, Route 48, nutrition room, 09:00 AM
• Dress code: business casual
• Poultry - rabbits - small livestock theme
• Interactive clinical games
• Bring your computer
  
  

• Group work according to your preferences
  
  

• Venue: Building B43a, Route 50, Pascal Leroy Room, 09:30 am
• What to bring: casual clothes
• Theme: presentation of group work / discussion of the week's work

Clinical module on ruminants

Clinical teaching is given face-to-face. Attendance at these clinics is therefore mandatory from 8.30am to noon (See Assessment mthods and criteria).

Clinical module on pigs

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Activities are organised by the Swine clinic team from Monday to Friday. Detailed modalities for this training are addressed by mail to students.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Clinical classes are held in person and are mandatory from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., subject to change due to new health measures and/or other logistical constraints.

Absences:

In case of absence, please notify Dr. Freyia Popovic-Sindberg (fpopovicsindberg@uliege.be), the department secretary (pedagogie.dcp@uliege.be), and the faculty secretariat (secretariatetudiant.fmv@uliege.be) as soon as possible, and in all cases before 8:30 a.m. on the first day of your absence.

All absences must be justified by a medical certificate.

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Blended learning


Further information:

Courses are given in a combination of face-to-face and/or distance learning (see general organization of the week). Attendance at these activities is compulsory from- to see schedule above (see Assessment methods and criteria).

In the event of absence, a medical certificate is required. You are asked to inform the supervisors as soon as possible by e-mail and the secretary's office (secretariatetudiant.fmv@uliege.be), and in any case before 8.30 a.m. on the 1st day of your absence.

Clinical module on ruminants

Course notes are available on the eCampus platform.

Clinical module on pigs

Specific notes are available on eCampus.

 

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The course outlines and notes relevant to the clinic are available on eCampus for the corresponding activities.

Any specific prerequisites for each morning session are indicated for the corresponding activities and are also available on eCampus.

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Specific notes are available on eCampus for the corresponding activities.

Clinical module on ruminants

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

As explained in the VETE-2085-1 tab, the assessment of the individual case clinic will take place throughout the week on the basis of participation, behaviour and progress made by each student. An oral interrogation will also take place on the Friday morning, by a senior member of the department on the general and special clinical examinations, immobilisation and clinical anatomy. Two questions (general clinical examination, special cardiorespiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal examination and clinical anatomy) will be randomly drawn by the student.

Clinical module on pigs

Written work / report

Continuous assessment

Other : Continuous group evaluation + individual written evaluation at the end of the week.


Further information:

Continuous group evaluation + individual written evaluation at the end of the week. This evaluation will cover soft skills, knowledge and know-how.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Continuous Assessment

The Herd Clinic assessment will take place throughout the week.

• Attendance will be recorded each morning, and students will receive a theoretical (knowledge) and practical (soft skills/knowledge) grade. The theoretical grade will be assessed via a test on eCampus or orally during the practical session.
• The final individual grade for the Herd Clinic week will be the sum of the week's grades (converted to a scale of 20).

• One late arrival: a deduction of 1 point (out of 20) from the final grade for the week.
• Two or more late arrivals: The lateness will be considered an unjustified absence, and the final grade for the clinical week will be reduced to 5/20 (see: "Assessment Methods and Criteria").

• 01.06: Be able to perform health scoring (feed efficiency scores, cleanliness scores, locomotion scores, udder health scores)
• 01.07: Be able to evaluate the five rations (calculated, distributed, ingested, digested, and metabolized)
• 01.08: Analyze the environment and housing of a cattle barn and interpret the data in relation to recommendations and animal welfare.
• 01.09: Know how to identify a case of udder health using farm documents and software, and know how to interpret the results of additional examinations performed.
• 01.10: Understand the importance of reproductive monitoring and be able to interpret the main reproductive parameters of the herd.

• Is there a problem with (udder health/lameness/feeding/housing/reproduction/other) on this farm?
• What method did you use to identify/diagnose this problem?
• Is it a major or minor problem on this farm? If so, why?
• Is it causing economic losses (quantify them)?
• Does this problem represent an area for improvement on this farm?
• What were the causes and/or risk factors?
• What solutions did you consider for this problem?

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

All absences must be justified by a medical certificate and notified by e-mail to pedagogie.dcp@uliege.be , attaching a copy of the medical certificate before 8:30 a.m. on the 1st day of absence, the time of sending being taken as proof (to find all staff e-mail addresses, refer to the directory available online on the Uliege website). Otherwise, the absence will be considered unjustified, unless it is due to a serious reason. In addition, the original medical certificate must be handed in to the student secretariat (or e-mailed to secretariatetudiant.fmv@uliege.be). Missed activities must be recovered (arrangements to be discussed with the person in charge of the activity concerned).


Continuous assessment

As explained in the VETE-2085-1 tab, assessment will be carried out throughout the week on the basis of each student's participation, interpersonal skills and know-how progress.

Evaluation during the exam session
MCQs on virtual farm visits will be included in the exam questions for VETE2083-1 - Gestion de la 

Clinical module on ruminants

Not applicable.

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Not applicable.<br /><br /> Not applicable.<br /><br /> none

Clinical module on ruminants

Every day, students must be ready at the entrance to the ruminants clinic at 8.30am (unless contrary information is provided by the teaching staff during the week.

Any lateness will be taken into account in the following way:

-The student must apologise and explain their lateness to the senior member of staff responsible for the activity (Dr. V. Frisée for the individual case clinic)

The final grade for the clinical week may be adjusted:

For one late arrival: deduction of -1 point (out of 20) from the final grade for the ruminant clinic week.

For two (or more) late arrivals: the late arrival will be considered as an unjustified absence and the final grade for the clinical week will be 5/20 (See "Assessment methods and criteria").

Students must be appropriately dressed, with clean overalls and boots, no jewellery, short nails, and long hair tied back. They must also bring their surgical outfit. They must all systematically bring their own clinical equipment, i.e.: stethoscope, thermometer, plessimeter, reflex hammer, watch/stopwatch, pen and name badge pinned to the overalls, working torch. During the clinical hours, no smartphones will be authorised including for use as a stopwatch. Any violation of these rules may be sanctioned in the same way as an unjustified absence, e.g. may lead to a final grade of 5/20 for the ruminants' clinic (see "Assessment methods and criteria").

 
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

During the clinic, please respect:

- no food or drink

- wash and disinfect your hands

- In case of absence, contact V.Frisée (vfrisee@uliege.be)

Clinical module on pigs

Attendance at the Swine clinic is mandatory. A roll-call will systematically take place. Absences must be communicated by email (porcine.fmv@uliege.be) and justified by a medical certificate. The original medical certificate must be submitted to the Student Secretariat (Décanat); a copy will be sent by email to the address above. Any absence from the Swine clinic must be announced. You will have to arrange a resit as soon as possible.

For sanitary reasons, students must wear trousers, a T-shirt/shirt and clean shoes. Do not bring boots or overalls: overalls, boots and "oversocks" will be provided on site.

The biosecurity rules presented on the https://www/fmv-biosecurite.ulg.ac.be site and those communicated by the members of the Swine clinic team on a daily basis must be strictly respected.

You are autorized to enter into the FMV (B42) or the CRA-w pig farm as a result of your formal agreement to strictly respect the biosecurity measures set out below.

• Had no contact (direct or indirect) with boars within 72 hours;
• Not been into the necropsy room (or into its refrigerators) within 72 hours;
• Not visited any other pig farm within 72 hours;
• Not have been in contact with pet pigs within 72 hours.

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

The clinic takes place Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (excluding public holidays and vacation periods).

For farm visits (Monday to Thursday), please meet at 8:30 a.m. in the main courtyard of Care-Fepex, dressed appropriately for each student and with the required equipment:

• Clean overalls
• Clean boots
• Identification badge (Last Name, First Name, Group, Year of Study sticker)
• Clinical examination equipment: thermometer, watch with second hand, stethoscope, lamp, hammer and plate.
• Something to take notes with (notebook and pen)
• Any useful documents provided (template).

• No eating or drinking on the premises,
• Clean rubber boots and overalls are required.

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Students are strongly asked to review the available information via the E-campus platform (course VETE-2085-D-a) and to review the biosafety rules relating to Fepex. Whatever the clinic, all students will be subject to the biosafety rules inherent to the premises in which they are located.

If a student is late for an activity, he or she has to apologize and justify the delay to the senior staff member in charge of the activity.

All students must be dressed appropriately for the activities, i.e. clean overalls and boots, no jewelry, trimmed nails and long hair tied back. They must carry their surgical garments (pants and pants). They must also bring their own clinic equipment. No mobile phones or smartphones will be allowed during the activity hours, including to use the chronometer.

You are authorized to come into contact with the animals provided your formal commitment to comply strictly with the biosafety measures specified below.


not to have come into contact (directly or indirectly) with poultry / rabbits within 72 hours;
not to have been in an autopsy room (or its refrigerators) within 72 hours.
After your visit, you are not authorized to visit a poultry farm within 72 hours.

Clinical module on ruminants

Person responsable: Dr V. Frisée vfrisee@uliege.be

Clinical module on pigs

Prof. Dr. Martine Laitat (Tel.: 04/366 40 63) - Swine clinic


Email: porcine.fmv@uliege.be

 

Herd medicine and ambulatory clinic

Teachers :

Professor H. Guyot: hugues.guyot@uliege.be 
Dr. C. Bayrou: calixte.bayrou@uliege.be 

Teaching Assistant:

Dr. Freyia Popovic-Sindberg: fpopovicsindberg@uliege.be

Dr Lauralie Bauler : Lauralie.Bauler@uliege.be 

Surgery and preventive surgery on birds, rabbits and pigeons

Poultry, rabbit, pigeon and preventive clinic,

Students are requested to use their official ULiège email address when contacting teachers.

Professor D. Marlier: dmarlier@uliege.be

Professor J.L. Hornick: jlhornick@uliege.be

Assistant C. Ngandjui Yonga: Clement.NgandjuiYonga@uliege.be