Vet school herd enhances student understanding of dairy industry

First-year student Pamela Draheim didn’t know how much she liked cows until she came to the university.

“I never considered working with cows,” admits the pre-veterinary student. “But now I’m considering doing primarily large animal medicine.”

What changed her mind? The School of Veterinary Medicine‘s 52-cow dairy teaching herd, recently acquired to teach students from a non-farm background everything about a dairy operation.

Draheim took a milking job with the teaching herd to gain large-animal experience that would give her an edge in the competitive veterinary school admissions process.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the cows, and seeing all the things the veterinarians do has made dairy practice seem very interesting,” she says.

Teaching everything from cattle handling to the economic impact of management decisions, the herd helps students from a farm background as well. Veterinarians also involve students in diagnosis, treatment and management decisions.

While veterinary school personnel don’t expect everyone who comes into contact with the teaching herd to become a large- animal veterinarian, they nevertheless view it as an opportunity for students to gain a more realistic view of the dairy industry.

“Students need to be exposed to milk pricing issues,” says Norm Fruit, a Richland Center dairy farmer who has an 80-cow herd. “Veterinarians will continue to play an increasing role in management decisions on the farm.”

Edie Brandt, a vet school alumna who has a dairy practice in DePere, adds: “It’s important to have good veterinarians available to serve the dairy industry. This teaching herd will help promote the dairy industry and ensure that good veterinarians are available to be part of the picture.”

The school’s milking herd is one of only four working, teaching dairy herds among the nation’s 27 veterinary schools. It is intended to be a self-supporting commercial venture while doubling as a teaching resource for veterinary students and faculty. Proceeds from the herd’s milk sales must cover a herd manager and milkers’ salaries, feed and bedding.

Dan Coulthard, a dairy science graduate who works as a research specialist at the veterinary school, oversaw the budget and barn remodeling, including replacement of stanchions that were beginning to rust and addition of rubber mats for cow comfort.

The herd is available for veterinary courses at the school — including everything from reproductive examinations, animal-handling techniques, skin testing and large-animal medicine.

“Just like any working dairy, our students struggle with day-to-day issues like moving switch cows during milking, treating cows for mastitis and experiencing mastitis because there wasn’t an empty box stall available for a cow to calve,” notes Dave Gietzel, the herd’s manager.

“Many students don’t even know how to put a halter on a cow or how she is fed and milked,” he admits. “Now they have an opportunity to learn firsthand, and even get paid for it.”

Third-year veterinary student Jon Gundlach has taken him up on the offer. “The more experience I can get before I go into practice, the better,” he says. Gundlach has a farm background and already knows he wants to go into large animal practice. “Out here, I get to see cases as they happen, plus I’m getting paid,” he grins.

Another member of the milking crew, Matt Hartwig, is a dairy science graduate from UW-River Falls. He’s working as assistant herd manager, hoping to be accepted to the veterinary degree program. He coaxes a cow to her feet by scratching her back and applying gentle pressure.

“We like to see the cows relaxed like this,” he says. “When they’re relaxed, they’re safer and easier to work with, and they are more comfortable so they should spend more time producing milk.” n

Sheila McGuirk, a large animal medicine professor at the veterinary school, says the herd has enhanced her teaching opportunities. “Students can be involved in primary care of cows with medical problems more typical of everyday practice – everything from examination and treatment to follow-up,” she says. “They can be given more independence because the cows are ours.

“For the younger students, the opportunity to perfect their physical examination skills on real, working cows with great personalities and a wonderful staff that supports their use for teaching is an opportunity that we have not enjoyed before,” McGuirk adds.

Local milking equipment manufacturer, Bou-Matic, donated a pipeline milking system, an 800-gallon bulk milk tank, and a compressor to cool the milk. Pharmacia and Upjohn Animal Health, Pfizer, and the Merck Agvet Division of Merck & Co., Inc. donated drugs. ABS donated a nitrogen tank and 20 straws of semen for breeding the cows.

William Goodger, an associate professor in the veterinary school, says the donations and upgraded facilities give students practical insights into a Grade A milking operation.

“Students make their career decisions based on experience,” Goodger says. “If they can feel comfortable in a dairy environment, they’re more likely to choose it as a practice option.”