NAVLE Bovine Practice Questions
Cattle are 13.3% of the NAVLE species blueprint · 32 of the 360 questions on our practice exam
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for bovine so you know where you stand.
Free bovine drillWhich finding on transrectal palpation is a positive sign of pregnancy in a cow about 40 days after breeding?
Bovine Clinical Practice on the NAVLE
Cattle are 13.3% of ICVA’s species blueprint. Bovine questions mix individual cow medicine with herd-level thinking: what caused the problem in this animal, and what should change for the whole herd.
- Share of the exam
- Cattle are 13.3% of the NAVLE species blueprint; 32 of the 360 questions on our practice exam
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 42 bovine questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
What bovine questions test
- Transition cow disease: milk fever, ketosis, displaced abomasum and metritis
- Mastitis and milk quality: contagious and environmental pathogens, somatic cell counts and withdrawal times
- Respiratory and infectious disease: BRD, BVD persistently infected calves, IBR, Johne’s disease and clostridial disease
- Calf health: passive transfer, neonatal diarrhea and fluid therapy
- Toxicology and nutrition: nitrate, lead, polioencephalomalacia, grass tetany and mineral deficiencies
- Reproduction and lameness: synchronization, cystic ovaries, trichomoniasis, breeding soundness and foot disease
Sit the full exam under the real clock
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for bovine so you know where you stand.
Free bovine drillHow to study it
- Think at the herd level: when a question describes several animals, look for the common cause.
- Know which drugs are prohibited for extra-label use in food animals and how withdrawal times work.
- Learn the timing of transition cow diseases relative to calving.
- Take the bovine drill until you score 80% or better.
Common questions
How many bovine questions are on the NAVLE?
ICVA weights bovine content at 13.3% of the exam, about 48 of the 360 questions across all competency areas.
Are food safety and drug residue questions in the bovine area?
Our bovine drill covers clinical practice. Drug residue, reportable disease and food safety questions about cattle are in our Public Health and Welfare area, because ICVA counts them under Preventive Medicine and Animal Welfare.
360 questions across every species and competency area in 12 timed blocks, with a score for bovine so you know where you stand.
Free bovine drillThe other NAVLE areas
- Canine Clinical Practice
- Feline Clinical Practice
- Equine Clinical Practice
- Swine, Sheep, Goats and Camelids
- Birds and Exotic Animals
- Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Animal Welfare
- Communication and Professionalism
- NAVLE practice exam (360 questions, 12 timed blocks)
- Mixed drill: all eight areas
- NAVLE practice test: exam facts and every area
Sources
- ICVA: NAVLE Candidate Handbook, 2026-2027 testing cycle (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE structure update begins with the October-November 2026 testing window
- ICVA: NAVLE 101, how the exam is created, administered and scored
- ICVA: NAVLE retake policy changes effective December 1, 2025
- ICVA: NAVLE Competency Domains outline (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE Species and Diagnoses outline (PDF)
- ICVA: 2026 Report to Veterinary Academia (PDF)
- ICVA: NAVLE Self-Assessments and practice tutorial
Original practice questions written to ICVA’s published NAVLE competency and species outlines; they are not NAVLE questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) or the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). NAVLE is a registered mark of ICVA.