Address: Bulgaria, Sofia - 1797, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., University of Forestry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Building D, Rooms № 103, 106, 119, 120, 128, 129 130, 131, 132, 133

Head of Department: Assoc. Prof. PhD Andrei Aleksandrov Kurtenkov

History: The department was established in 1995 as a union of basic disciplines necessary for the creation of highly qualified specialists in veterinary medicine. The first head was Prof. Dimitar Stoev Dobrianov, DSc and after that the heads of the Department were Assos. Prof. Malcho Gospodinov Petrov, Prof. Bayko Dimitrov Baykov, Assos. Prof. Iliya Stoyanov Ralchev and prof. Zaprianka Nikolaeva Shindarska. At present, one full professor, three associate professors, one chief assistant professor and one assistant professor are employed in the department. The disciplines studied in the department provide modern knowledges required by each veterinarian in the field of genetics and breeding; biochemistry, general pathology and immunology, technology and hygiene requirements in the manufacture of organic production in livestock breeding; basic animal breeds; pedigree composition; modern feed requirements for domestic animals and the impact of individual feed and supplements on health, reproductive function and animal health and the quality of the animal products obtained. The mandatory subjects taught in the department are thirteen: Professional Ethics; Ecology; Molecular Biology; Nutrition and Agronomy; Genetics and Animal Breeding; Biochemistry; Livestock Breeding; Veterinary Hygiene and Animal Breeding Technology; Immunology; General pathology (Pathophysiology), Public Veterinary Case and Legislation, Forensic Veterinary Medicine. Six optional courses are in the department: History of Veterinary Medicine; Cynology, Working with laboratory animals, welfare and organization of the experiments, Quality and safety of animal feed, Veterinary services of organic livestock breeding, Genetic diagnostic methods in veterinary medicine. The department conducts obligatory students’ summer training on livestock breeding after Third year of education. Scientific research topics in the department are in the field of the assessment of the impact of various factors on the productivity of domestic animals, the management of animal evolution, characteristics of the immune response, analysis and improvement of the legislative base in the field of veterinary medicine and livestock breeding.

Academic staff of the department:
• Prof. Zapryanka Nikolaeva Shintsarska, PhD - room 103 (Nutrition and Agronomy, Biochemistry, Food Quality and Safety)
• Assoc. Prof. Krassimira Ivanova Genova, PhD, - room 119 (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Pathology, Working with laboratory animals, welfare, organization of the experiment)
• Assoc. Prof. Andrey Aleksandrov Kourtenkov, PhD, - room 129 (Professional Ethics, Genetics and Animal Breeding, Animal Breeding, History of Veterinary Medicine, Cynology, Veterinary Service of Organic Livestock)
• Assoc. Prof. Vesselin Kirov Kirov, PhD - room 132 (Ecology, Veterinary Hygiene and Technology in Livestock, Public Veterinary Case and Legislation, Forensic Veterinary Medicine)
• Chief Assist. Prof. Iliyan Manev Manev, PhD - room 106 (Pathology (Pathophysiology), Immunology, Biochemistry, Food Quality and Safety)
Assist. Prof. Hristina Stalinova Neshovska – room 132 (Ecology, Veterinary Hygiene and Technology in Livestock, Public Veterinary Case and Legislation, Forensic Veterinary Medicine)

Manager Learning Activities:
• Sofiyka Mladenova Markova - room 128