Merck Animal Health Partners with Academy of Veterinary Consultants to Honor Dr. David Bechtol
MADISON, N.J., April 27, 2017 – Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), recently honored David Bechtol, D.V.M., with the 2017 Outstanding Service Award. Dr. Bechtol, Founder and President of Palo Duro Consulting Research and Feedlot and Agri-Research Center, Inc., was recognized for his contributions to the feedlot industry, which he has helped lead for more than four decades.
“Throughout the years, Dr. Bechtol, a charter member of the AVC, has become a ‘consultant’s consultant,’ as one nominator put it,” said John Mayer, D.V.M., Ruminant Technical Services, Merck Animal Health. “He developed educational resources to help train feedlot crews, lectured on stocker and feeder health, opened his home to students and interns looking to learn more about emerging management practices, and represented the veterinary industry on numerous committees and panels. I worked for Dr. Bechtol years ago and he was – and continues to be – a tremendous ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker, leader, organizer, mentor and teacher.”
“I want to thank Merck Animal Health for sponsoring this award for the AVC,” said Dr. Bechtol. “This award was a huge surprise and personally means so much to me. I am thankful that the AVC has grown from a small group of veterinarians in 1971 that were unselfishly willing to exchange ideas and make it what it is today – a group still willing to share ideas to better the food-producing industry and the veterinary professionals who work in it.”
The Outstanding Service Award is announced annually at the AVC Spring Meeting. Presented to current or past AVC members, the award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the AVC and the beef cattle industry. In addition, Merck Animal Health donates $2,000 to the AVC Foundation in the award recipient’s name.
About Merck Animal Health
For over a century, Merck has been a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck.Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.
About the Academy for Veterinary Consultants
The Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) is an association of veterinarians involved in beef cattle medicine, herd health programs and consultation. Our mission is to provide continuing education, member support and leadership among various entities of the beef cattle industry. The AVC goal strives for optimum productivity of a safe, high-quality product.