David T. Bechtol, DVM
16851 Hope Road
Canyon, Texas 79015
Personal
Birthdate: February 6, 1937
Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas
Married: Mary R. Bechtol
Professional Interest
Food animal consultation
Computerized herd health record system
Feedlot cattle research
Education
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, 1964
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 1965
University of Nebraska
Great Plains Veterinary Education Center
Beef Cattle Production Management Series, 1999
Professional Experience
2012 - Present
Co-owner Veterinary Health Source, LLC
Specializing in dairy, swine and companion animal research.
1975 - Present
President of food animal consultation practice, Palo Duro Con-
sultation Research & Feedlot. Primary responsibilities include
supervision and technical expertise involved with maintenance of
comprehensive herd health practice. Developed computerized
herd health record system currently used in consultant programs.
1979 - Present
Founded private research facility, Agri Research Center, Inc.
The primary objective of this facility is to perform pharmaceuti-
cal, biological and feed-additive trials in a scientifically controlled
environment.
Specializing in beef stocker-backgrounding, feedlot and equine research.
June 1966 - January 1975
General practice, Dimmitt, Texas
Started practice; built up to three person practice. Partnership
established in May 1970. Emphasis on food animal medicine.
Swine and cattle consultant. Sold practice in January 1973.
August 1965 - June 1966
Large animal practice
Dr. Bob Boss, Amarillo, Texas
Society Memberships
Academy of Veterinary Consultants
Charter member
President 1972-73
1986 Consultant of the Year
1998 Life Member
Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Member since 1965
Past member of beef practice, research, feedlot, swine, legisla-
tive, building fund and stocker/feeder committees and TVMA
Foundation
Past chairman of feedlot and swine committees
President 1979-80
1981 Food Animal Practitioner of the Year
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Member since 1965
Past district director
Past chairman food and drug committee
President 1979-80
1981 AABP Practitioners Award
1998 AABP Practitioners Award for Excellence in Preventive
Medicine- Beef
American Association of Industrial Veterinarians
Member since 1979
American Society of Agricultural Consultants
Member since 1969-1999
Served on membership committee
Director 1987-89
Secretary-treasurer 1988-89
President-elect 1990-91
President 1991-92
American Association of Swine Veterinarians
Charter member
Past District Director
President 1973-74
American Veterinary Medical Association
Member since 1965
Served on Drug Availability and Animal Welfare Committees
Served on Council on Biologic and Therapeutic agents
National Emerging Democracies Committee 1992
Appointed by Secretary of Agriculture
Texas A&M University
Adjunct professor in the Department of Large Animal Medicine
and Surgery
Past member advisory board to the dean of the School of
Veterinary Medicine representing food animal medicine
Distinguished Alumni Award 1982
Distinguished Alumni Award Award 1991—“75th Year in
Making Awards Celebration”
Texas A & M Institutional Biosafety Committee
Member 2014
TVMDL Directory's Advisory Council
Member 2013
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Associate member
Agri Research Center, Inc.—feedlot member
Chairman Regulatory Committee 1987
Member Board of Directors 1987-89
Member Regulatory Committee 1996-97
National Cattleman’s Beef Association
Member
Past member animal health, diseases and identification committee
Member beef safety committee
Chairman subcommittee on animal drugs, biologicals and feed-
additives 1988-89
United States Animal Health Association
Member since 1979
Past member livestock identification committee
Feeding Quality Forum 2013
Certified Angus Beef
Industry Achievement Awared
First veterinarian to be recognized
Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce
President 1972
Dimmitt Jaycees
Outstanding Young Man 1972
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
Member
FFA Honorary State Farmer
United States Marine Corps 1956-58
First Baptist Church, Canyon, Texas
Student Programs
Since 1973 have had students on externship from:
Texas Georgia Minnesota Illinois
Iowa Ohio Mississippi Indiana
Colorado Oklahoma Indiana Kansas
California North Carolina South Africa Australia
Argentina Florida Illinois
Represented Texas Veterinary Association, Texas Cattle Feed-ers
Association and American Association of Bovine Practition-
ers at several hearings in Washington, DC, College Station, and
Dallas concerning low level antibiotic feeding and the Diethyl-
stilbestrol situation.
Publications
Bechtol, Velardo. The Feedlot Veterinarian...A Money Saving
Member of Management. Veterinary Economics, Vol. 13, No. 10,
October, 1972, pp. 34-39.
Bechtol, Pfizer. Communisulting. Agri Dynamics, Vol. 13, No. 3, 1972, pp. 16-23.
Irwin, Brown, Deyhle, Bechtol. Association of Bovine Papular Stomatitis with the “Rat Tail” Syndrome of Feedlot Cattle. The Southwestern Veterinarian, Vol. 29, No. 2, 1976.
Bechtol, Jordon. Cattle Feedlot Health Management. Current Veterinary Therapy: Food Animal Practice, 1984.
Bechtol. Record Keeping: Key to Successful Feedlot Health Programs. Norden News, Vol. 56, No. 1, 1981, pp. 32-35.
Bechtol. Feedlot Receiving Programs. Norden News, Vol 56, No. 2, 1981, pp. 12-16.
Bechtol. Feedlot Treatment Programs, A Systematic Approach to Cutting Disease Losses. Norden News, Vol. 56, No. 3, 1981, pp. 8-14.
Bechtol. Feedlot Animal Health. bimonthly article, Drover’s Journal, October 1982-1994.
Bechtol, Jordon. Cattle Feedlot Health Management. Current Veterinary Therapy: Food Animal Practice, revised edition, 1988.
Bechtol, Jordon, Pollreisz, series editors. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 1987-1993.
Bechtol, et. al. Beef Production Medicine, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996,
1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
Bechtol., Necropsy Examination-Necropsy Techniques for Feedlot
Personnel, a pictorial guide, 2000
Bechtol., Cattle Disease Guide, 2001
Bechtol., Cattle Treatment Guide, 2004
Bechtol,et. al. The Cattleman, Ranching Livestock Management, Quick reference sheet on what to watch for and provide to your beef herd during 2014 calendar of events.
Presentations
Academy of Veterinary Consultants
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
American Association of Swine Practitioners
American Society of Agricultural Consultants
American Veterinary Medical Association
Animal Health Institute
Australian Association of Cattle Practitioners
Austarlian Lot Feeders Association
APROVAC(Spain Feedlot Association)
ANEMBE(Spanish Buiatric Veterinary Association)
Beef Production Medicine Seminars with Animal Technologies
Illinois Veterinary Medical Association
Iowa Veterinary Medical Association
Mexican Bovine Practitioners Association
Michigan State Post Graduate Seminar
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association
Mongolian State University of Agriculture
New Mexico Academy of Veterinary Medicine
Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association
South African Veterinary Association
Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association
Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Western States Veterinary Conference
Presentations primarily cover feedlot herd health management with emphasis on:
Handling sick calves on arrival
Feedlot diseases
Processing and treatment programs
Feedlot records system
Represented Food Animal Medicine Veterinarians on Ag-USA, a nationally syndicated half-hour television program.
1) Columbus, Ohio, March 12, 1986
2) Kansas City, Missouri, October 27, 1986
3) Texas Feedlot Veterinarian, 1987

