Forensics conference at UF offers training to agriculture crime investigators

Dr. Joao Bittar, a beef cattle extension specialist at UF, uses a model to explain body conditioning scoring of beef cattle.
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a two-day forensics conference in May for the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit, a group of law enforcement officers who specialize in developing solutions to the unique crimes that affect agriculture, livestock, rural communities and agricultural-related businesses throughout the state of Florida.
Drs. Adam Stern, Jason Byrd, and Eileen Roy-Zokan and Ginger Clark of the UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Adam Leath from Volusia County Animal Services, Drs. Sally DeNotta, Joao Bittar and Catalina Cabrera, extension veterinarians at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Carissa Wickens, an equine extension specialist with UF/IFAS, provided forensic investigation and animal welfare assessment training for over 50 law enforcement officers from the unit.
Members of the FACIU participated in lectures and hands-on labs related to the role of the veterinarian in animal cruelty investigations, animal fighting, forensic entomology, forensic DNA analysis, animal handling, and the welfare assessment of animals including horses, cattle, and small ruminants.