Veterinary students gain ‘hands-on’ farming experience
Press release
28 November 2007
Veterinary students currently in their second year recently gained first hand experience of farm practices and the rural way of life when they visited a number of farms in north east Victoria over a weekend.
Over 30 students visited a variety of farms in the region including: Campbell Farms Angus Stud in Caniambo; the University of Melbourne Dookie College Sheep and Dairy Farm; Tanner’s Dairy Farm at Broken Creek; Mitchell’s Prime Lambs at Goorambat; Thoona Alpacas and Kennedy Creek Poll Dorset Stud based in Lurg.
The farm field trip included a tour of the sheep research facilities at Dookie College, with students spending time condition scoring sheep and comparing body types of Merino and non-Merino sheep. This provided the ideal opportunity to look at sheep issues such as tail length and mulesing techniques.
At Thoona, many students had the opportunity to view alpacas for the first time, with their hosts providing a comprehensive talk about the differences between running an alpaca and beef farm.
Other highlights included: viewing an automatic sheep drafting/weighing system at Goorambat, and discussing changes in management due to changes in the market and availability of irrigation water; in Caniambo, comparing different types of dairies, students were shown how the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) tags can be used in conjunction with management activities using weaner heifers, and in Lurg students had the chance to see autumn and spring born Poll Dorset lambs with their mothers.
Veterinary Science lecturer, Dr Stuart Barber said: “The main objectives of the excursion were to: reinforce concepts that had been taught in previous lectures and practical classes; to ensure that students understood some of the practical issues that happen on farms from the farmer’s point of view, and to provide a broad overview of farm management – including subjects that students are currently taught including Animal health management and welfare, Pharmacology, Parasitology, Bacteriology and Virology.
“Feedback from the students has been really positive, with students stating that they enjoyed learning about the different farming operations in the area, as well as cuddling the alpacas. Many students commented how much easier it was to understand the concepts when applied to a working farm – such as understanding estimated breeding values for cattle, which Robert Campbell explained.
“I would like to thank all the farmers for allowing us to visit and spend some time with them, and a big thank you goes out to the Campbell family who supplied the morning tea.”
For further information please contact the Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: vet-communications@unimelb.edu.au