USDA Grant Funds Program to Boost Veterinary Expertise in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Alabama A&M University has received a $63,000 Cochran Fellowship Grant to provide specialized training for veterinarians and agricultural experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Six veterinarians recently participated in the two-week program led by Extension Animal Science Specialist Felix U. Samuel.

The Cochran Fellowship Program, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative, offers short-term training to professionals from middle-income countries, promoting global trade and development by enhancing agricultural practices.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s livestock sector faces critical challenges in disease management and livestock health due to:

• Limited access to advanced training in veterinary and animal sciences
• Inadequate modern diagnostic tools
• Gaps in implementing best practices in animal health

These challenges have led to outbreaks of zoonotic and endemic diseases, reduced productivity, and trade restrictions. Addressing these issues required targeted capacity building to equip local veterinarians with modern strategies for improving animal health and disease management systems.

Through the USDA Cochran Fellowship Program, AAMU delivered a tailored training program focusing on these needs. Key outcomes of the program include:

• Enhanced knowledge and skills of participating veterinarians
• Improved animal health management practices
• Strengthened veterinary services in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Better economic and public health outcomes
• Increased potential for international trade

This initiative highlights the transformative impact of international collaboration. By addressing urgent animal health challenges and equipping veterinarians with advanced expertise, the program supports long-term improvements in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s veterinary and livestock sectors. Alabama A&M University's efforts reaffirm its commitment to advancing global agricultural and veterinary practices, fostering mutual benefits for the U.S. and its international partners.

For more, contact Extension Animal Science Specialist Felix Samuel at (256) 372-4983.

(Photo L-R): Sasa Boskovic, Jelena Pavic, Essence Bell, Goran Vuckovac, Felix Samuel, Daivon Allen, Faruk Mulabdic, Vladimir Bulatovic, and Radomir Medojevic