Moo Cows!

Unlike US vet schools, the UK doesn't believe in "tracking". Tracking usually involves one of two options: large or small animal. The final year clinical rotations are based on the track selected during enrollment. Most of the husbandry/medical classes also entail small OR large.

However, here at the Uni, all animals are created equal(mostly)! The four main categories are small (dog & cats), large (sheep, cows, goats, pigs), horses and exotics (pocket pets, birds, zoo animals). Everything except the exotics get an equal amount of handling, husbandry and medical stuff.

Right now, it's all about the cows!! Last week, we started with virtual farm. The virtual farm is an online portal to all things sheep/cow related. It has information on the Langhill Dairy Farm and the Easter Bush Sheep-ery including running the farm, production numbers, husbandry and baby animals. That's "my" cow. I have to determine her milk yield etc.

Today was FANTASTIC!! Baby cows! In the past few years, the University has cracked down on biosecurity, health and safety. This means waterproofs and steel-toed wellies! Woohoo!!

The group was led through the baby cow processing (not slaughtering but how they're cared for). After the information section was over, we headed to the calf pens where the babies are kept while being weaned. In there, we got to capture and release the newest babies. Maria (she's awesome!) and I wrangled calves and restrained them in positions for dehorning and castrating. Luckily, the waterproofs are true to their name. I got peed on by a silly boy calf. Very awesome! Finally, got to handle a fuzzy. It's been frustrating to be stuck in a classroom especially when the Uni claimed animal handling from day one, gah!

Cleaning off is an involved process! Rinse off the waterproofs, scrub the boots, brush down everything with iodine, stand around for 10 minutes, rinse off the iodine then it's on to hands...which must be done 5 times. Rinse hands, apply soap, scrub palms together, fingers interlaces, fist together, thumbs, under fingernails then finally wrists. Rinse off, turn tap off with elbow and dry thoroughly. The only reason I tell you because I will be tested over it. If I don't get it in the right order, I will fail!! Whoop!