About Us
Welcome to the Visual Guides of Animal Reproduction
The Visual Guides of Animal Reproduction, originally known as The Drost Project, began as a collection of images compiled by Maarten Drost over a period of 30+ years as a theriogenologist on the faculties of the University of California Davis and the University of Florida, as well as Utrecht University in The Netherlands and Colorado State University during sabbatical leaves. The foundation for this image atlas was laid during his stint as a visiting professor to Cornell University during the 1972/73 academic year, with numerous slides provided from the teaching collections of Dr. Stephen J. Roberts and Dr. Kenneth McEntee. Most of the images subsequently accumulated were generously contributed by friends and colleagues, and permission for their inclusion in this on-line guide has been granted. The images are categorized and each is given a title and an annotation and the original source of the image is acknowledged and referenced.
The purpose of the Visual Guides of Animal Reproduction is to share these visual images with students and colleagues and other professionals around the globe. Initially the guide focused on bovine reproduction. Subsequently, we have added the guides for bubaline (water buffalo) reproduction, equine (horse) reproduction, ovine (sheep) reproduction, porcine (pig) reproduction, caprine (goat) reproduction, and canine (dog) reproduction. The Visual Guides will be expanded to include other species, including feline, avian, and camelid guides. Pictures documenting unique conditions and cases contributed by theriogenologists from around the world are included.
Personal teaching slides are generally lost when educators switch to other pursuits or retire. Even when left to designated successors, images are of limited use unless they are annotated and catalogued and made available. In time we hope that continuing to combine individual collections will result in a broad, global educational resource. With the extensive globalization of education it is our goal to provide a tool to pass information from educators to practitioners and from practitioners to farm personnel.
Maarten Drost, DVM (ISU '62) Dipl ACT. Active Project Director
The Visual Guides began as a collection of images compiled by Dr. Maarten Drost over a period of 30+ years as a Theriogenologist on the faculties of the University of California Davis and the University of Florida, as well as Utrecht University in The Netherlands and Colorado State University during sabbatical leaves. The foundation for this image atlas was laid during his stint as a visiting professor to Cornell University during the 1972/73 academic year, with numerous slides provided from the teaching collections of Dr. Stephen J. Roberts and Dr. Kenneth McEntee. Images subsequently added have been generously contributed by friends, colleagues, and users of the Visual Guides. The images are categorized by subject and topic, and each is given a title and a caption, and the original source of the image is acknowledged and referenced.
Dr. Maarten Drost is the Director of the Project and acts as Chief Editor and Ambassador. He oversees the Project and has final say on content and future direction of the Visual Guides. He also presents the Project at academic and professional meetings and associations.
He is a founding father of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, which graduated its first class in 1980. Dr. Maarten Drost started the Department of Reproduction at that time, hired five species specialists and developed the curriculum in Theriogenology.
In addition, Dr. Maarten Drost has taught reproductive management courses in the Department of Animal Sciences of the College of Agriculture at the University of Florida since 1978. His research has focused on the initiation of parturition in ruminants, and on embryo transfer in cattle and in water buffalo.
Dr. Maarten Drost has a global reputation and has lectured and taught workshops on obstetrical management and reproductive technology in many countries around the world, including Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, England, Egypt, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Venezuela.
Patrick M. Larkin, PhD, (UF '00), Active Technical Administrator
Upon completing his PhD in the Interdisciplinary Program of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Florida, Dr. Larkin, co-founded a Biotechnology company in Alachua, Florida that specialized in developing molecular diagnostics in the aquatic toxicology field. After directing the scientific operations for several years and successfully bring several products to market, the company was bought out by a larger company, which is currently the industry leader in fish species identification in the country. In 2011, Dr. Larkin joined the faculty as an Adjunct Professor in the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. In that position, he developed an online teaching program geared towards undergraduate students interested in veterinary medicine. He currently serves as the Director of this online teaching program.Deborah Gwen Cornwell, PhD (UF '89), Past member
Dr. Gwen Cornwell was the original Technical Administrator for The Drost Project and was responsible for the technical development and management of the Project databases, software, publications, Visual Guides, and computer services.
She received her Doctorate in Reproductive Physiology (beef cattle) from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida.
Curator Advisory Committee Members
Bovine guide (Dr. Klibs Galvão) Dr. Galvão is currently a Professor of Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida. Dr. Galvão completed a Residency in Dairy Production Medicine and a Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine at UC-Davis, then completed a PhD in Reproductive Physiology with a minor in Immunology at Cornell University, then he worked at The Ohio State University as a Clinical Assistant Professor, before moving to the University of Florida. Dr. Galvão is board certified by the American college of Theriogenologists and the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Dr. Galvão’s workload is divided into research, clinical service, and teaching related to dairy cow reproduction. His research is focused on uterine immunology and microbiology, development of therapeutics for prevention and treatment of uterine disease, and development of herd simulation models to estimate profitability of different reproductive and treatment protocols used in dairy farms. His clinical service and teaching is focused on dairy cattle reproductive physiology and management.
Bubaline guide (Dr. Drost) Dr. Drost is a professor emeritus in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. He received his DVM degree from Iowa State University in 1962. Upon graduation he worked in a large animal practice in Campbell CA for two years and was a Captain in the Army Veterinary Corps for two years. Dr Drost joined the faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of California Davis in 1966, initially as a research veterinarian performing fetal surgeries in sheep and taking care of the experimental prolonged gestation herd of Holstein cows, studying the role of the fetus in the initiation of parturition, and from 1968 on as a member of the clinical faculty. In 1977 he came to the University of Florida to establish a Department of Reproduction in the new College of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests turned to advanced reproductive technology, specifically embryo transfer in cattle and in water buffalo. He taught annual bovine embryo transfer workshops for veterinarians for 25 years. Dr Drost’s greatest passion throughout his career has been teaching. He continues this passion in his retirement through the creation of the Visual Guide to Reproduction, the Drost Project, a cyber atlas.
Canine guide (Dr. Audrey Kelleman) Audrey A. Kelleman, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, is a native of Florida. She traveled to New York for her degree in Biology from Cornell University, College of Agriculture. Subsequently, she graduated from UFCVM in 1995. She completed her theriogenology residency at UF in 2000. Dr. Kelleman is a member of the AVMA, AAEP, SFT, ACT, FVMA/FAEP, among other organizations. Since graduation, Dr. Kelleman has worked in a variety of locations and veterinary practice types, ranging from general mixed animal practices on the Eastern shore of Maryland, Tampa, Florida area, and Phoenix, Arizona, to reproduction consulting in New England. She has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont. In addition, she spent two years in the Netherlands, experiencing the Dutch culture and attempting to learn the Dutch language. Most recently, prior to her return to UF in December 2010, Dr. Kelleman spent four years working as a clinical veterinarian in the section of reproduction, at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center. Dr. Kelleman enjoys work with many species, such as equine, small and large ruminants, camelids, and small animals. She serves as faculty advisor for the UF student chapter for the Society for Theriogenology.
Caprine guide (Dr. Juan Romano) Dr. Romano is the veterinarian for the International Goat Research Center at Prairie View A&M University. He is a former Professor in Food Animal Field Services in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. Dr. Romano earned his DVM from the University of Uruguay in 1985, MS in Theriogenology from the University of Minnesota, Residency Certificate in Food Animal Theriogenology and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He is also a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. At the beginning of his career, Dr. Romano worked in freelance activities, primarily in ruminant reproduction, for 10 years. He pursued fellowship training in the Laboratoire pour le Contrôle des Reproducteurs (Paris- France, 1986-1987) and the National Livestock Breeding Center (Fukushima -Japan, 1991), where he received intensive training in bull evaluation and in vitro production of cattle embryos, respectively. Dr. Romano has published books, books chapters and has more than 70 articles in peer review journals. Dr. Romano is a former dairy goat producer and raises registered Hereford on a ranch in Burleson County, TX.
Cetacean guide (Dr. Iske Larkin) Dr. Iskande V. Larkin, is a Senior Lecturer and serves as the Aquatic Animal Health Director, within the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. She has over 20 years of experience studying and teaching marine mammal physiology, anatomy, reproduction and behavior, with an emphasis on manatees. Dr Larkin has developed and coordinates online courses and certificates in aquatic animal health, offered at the undergraduate, graduate, veterinary and continuing education levels, with additional courses and programs being developed. These educational opportunities are fostered in collaboration with numerous partners in state, federal, private and non-profit organizations.
Equine guide (Dr. Reed Holyoak) Dr. G. Reed Holyoak is a Regents professor and holds the Bullock Equine Reproduction Endowed Professorship in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. He received his B.S. in animal science in 1983 and M.S. in animal reproduction in 1984 from Brigham Young University before earning his DVM from Washington State University in 1988 and PhD from University of Kentucky in 1992. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) in 2000. He has over 150 peer reviewed papers, book chapters, abstracts, and published proceedings on equine, bovine, and canine reproduction topics. He has decades of service in helping teach theriogenology related topics in the USA and Asia. His current research interests include reproductive infectious diseases, including the reproductive tract microbiota, and the integration of assisted reproductive technologies and acupuncture in clinical practice. Dr. Holyoak has also been invited to provide training in China, Thailand, and Ireland, returning multiple times over the years in developing international collaborations.
Feline guide (Dr. Aime Johnson) Dr. Aime Johnson graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, NC, USA. She entered private practice in North Central with a special interest in reproduction for five years. She left private practice to complete a theriogenology residency at Texas A&M in 2005, and was board certified in the American College of Theriogenologists in August 2007. She joined the faculty at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL, USA in August 2007. Her special interests include all aspects of feline reproduction including infertility and nonsurgical sterilization. She is also involved in researching gene therapy to treat a childhood lysosomal storage disease using a feline model.
Ovine guide (Dr. Mary Smith) Dr. Mary C. Smith is currently a professor in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at Cornell. She has been a clinician in the Ambulatory and Production Medicine Clinic at Cornell since graduation from the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972. This involves teaching senior veterinary students while providing service on farm calls. Although all large animals are fascinating, her special interests include the ‘miscellaneous species’ (camelids, sheep and goats), gross pathology, and poisonous plants. Distribution courses taught include Llama Tutorial, Sheep and Goat Medicine, Poisonous Plants, Food Animal Welfare, and Overview of Complementary Medicine. Dr. Smith has coauthored two books: Goat Medicine, now in its third edition (with David Sherman) and Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Sheep and Goat (with Karl Linklater).
Porcine guide (Dr. Cliff Shipley) Dr. Shipley was raised on a diversified farm in Southwest Iowa. He attended Northwest Missouri State University where he got his BS in Animal Science and then attended Iowa State University where he got his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He practiced in Northeast Iowa before going back to his hometown where he practiced for three years before taking a position at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. There he was the head of the ambulatory practice and small ruminant and swine extension veterinarian for the state of Virginia. He subsequently relocated back to Iowa to manage a large swine operation and consult with a local feed company. Since 1991, he has taught veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois where he became board certified in theriogenology (animal reproduction). He was the Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals for the University of Illinois, teaches theriogenology, consults with deer farmers across the country and has his own whitetail deer and mule deer farm. He was on the board of directors for the North American Deer Farmers Association for 6 years, an advisory board for Pneu-Dart, the Illinois Livestock Advisory Board and the President for the Illinois Deer Farmers Association. He has presented talks nationally and internationally on swine, cattle, horses and cervidae. When not working he plants and attends to his trees, food plots and hunts!.
Spanish guides (Dr. Myriam Jiminez) Dr. Myriam Jimenez is a native of Mexico City. She grew up close to her extended family of which her uncle Joshua is a DVM. He would take her on calls and she knew she would be a DVM from an early age. She got her DVM from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She thought she would be a small animal surgean (soft tissue), but she fell in love with food animal medicine mid her veterinary degree. Upon graduation she worked at a large dairy and then did her combined residency-MS program, followed by a PhD with the UF College of Veterinary Medicine team FARMS. Upon finishing her PhD degree, she got hired at Virginia Tech Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and started her journey as an Assistant Clinical Professor in Production Management Medicine in January 2022. Other than running around helping production animals and doing herd work, Myriam loves spending time with her 3yo son Caleb, husband Mason and 2 dogs. Hikes, drawing and painting are also hobbies she enjoys.
The Drost Project Visual Guides were initially designed to be modular from the onset. The image, annotation, and reference information was collected and compiled in a custom designed PC based program (Visual Guide Developer). Once the information was entered (at a particular point in time, since a Visual Guide is never, in reality, complete) the Visual Guide Developer was used to generate a complete and functional Guide that works in concert with the familiar circular (Flash) menu on the left of each Visual Guide.