Dr. Bob Smith

Dr. Bob Smith resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma, but is a native of southeastern Kansas, where he was raised on a small farm consisting of beef cattle, a small number of dairy cows and Quarter Horses. He decided early in life to go into either farming/ranching or veterinary medicine. He attended Kansas State University, receiving his BS and MS in Animal Science and a commission in the Army Air Defense Artillery. Following two years of active duty in the Army, he attended veterinary school at Kansas State. He remained in the Army Reserves for a total of 25 years.

Following graduation from veterinary school, he completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at Oklahoma State University. Except for a year and a half in private feedlot practice in the early 90's, he was at Oklahoma State until 2001 where he served as a field services clinician (farm and ranch calls) for 15 years, and finally held the McCasland Chair in Beef Health and Production. In that position, he was responsible for beef cattle extension, stocker cattle research, and industry service.

Currently he is in private practice with five other veterinarians at Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, working with feedlot and stocker cattle clients across the high plains. His clients have a one time capacity of 1500 to 60,000 cattle.

He has been very active in cattle and veterinary organizations, including the BQA Advisory Board, chairing the NCBA Cattle Health and Well-being Committee, President of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, President of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and is currently President of the Western Veterinary Conference.  He has given hundreds of presentations in the US, Canada and Europe, and has authored numerous book chapters and scientific articles. He currently is the editor of The Bovine Practitioner and Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice.

Dr. Smith has been recognized several time for his contributions to the livestock industry and veterinary medicine, including the AABP-Fort Dodge Bovine Practitioner of the Year Award, the Academy of Veterinary Consultant's Consultant of the Year Award, the Oklahoma Food Animal Practitioner of the Year, The 2006 Kansas State University Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the 2008 Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Beef Cattle Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Along with partners, he operates a stocker operation in Oklahoma, grazing wheat pasture and summer grass. Outside interests include his 1969 SS 396 Chevelle and 1930 Model A Ford Coupe.